Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the coalition of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, has criticized a court order preventing the removal of Umar Damagun as Acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The order, issued by the Federal High Court, restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) from replacing Damagun.
In a statement over the weekend, Ugochinyere argued that no legal order existed to stop the National Working Committee (NWC) from removing Damagun prior to his dismissal. He emphasized that there was no federal or state court ruling preventing Damagun’s overdue removal from office.
The NWC, following Damagun’s suspension, appointed Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed, the PDP’s current National Treasurer, as Acting National Chairman. However, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a restraining order, asserting that no one else should be recognized as the PDP Chairman until the party’s next national convention in December of next year. The judgment was in response to a suit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, referencing the party’s constitution, which states that national officers can only be elected at the National Convention.
Despite the court’s ruling, Ugochinyere insisted that the NWC’s actions were legitimate and that the court order did not interfere with Damagun’s dismissal. He also claimed the order favors a faction within the PDP aligned with pro-Wike and APC interests. Ugochinyere reaffirmed that Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed remains the Acting Chairman while awaiting the NEC meeting later this month.
