Court Blocks PDP NEC, BoT from Ousting Damagum as Acting National Chairman

The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Umar Damagum as the party’s Acting National Chairman.

Justice Peter Lifu issued the restraining order, stating that no one else should be recognized as PDP national chairman until the party’s national convention in December 2025. This decision was made in response to a suit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina, who claimed that some party stakeholders were secretly plotting to oust Damagum in violation of the party’s constitution.

The plaintiff, Senator Maina, had alleged that a former Kogi Deputy Governor, Phillip Salawu, was being positioned to replace Damagum. The court’s decision has significant implications for the PDP’s leadership and internal dynamics.