The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered Umar Damagum to remain the acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it by two chieftains of the party, News About Nigeria reports.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order while delivering his judgement. He restrained the PDP from appointing or nominating any person to replace Umar Damagum as its acting national chairman.
Recall that about 60 members of the House of Representatives who were elected on the platform of the PDP had, on April 8, demanded the resignation of Damagum as the acting national chairman of the party.
The group, led by the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, accused Damagum, who is an ally of the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of working in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Court, however, restrained the party from recognising any person other than Amb. Umar Illiya Damagum as acting national chairman.
“The Defendants/Respondents are hereby restrained in the interim, from appointing, selecting, or nominating any person to replace Amb. Umar llliya Damagum as National Chairman or Acting National Chairman of the 1st Defendant/Respondent, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed, which is herein fixed against the 14th of May, 2024.
“The Defendants/Respondents by themselves, agents, privies, or by any proxy, are hereby in the interim, restrained from, according recognition to any person other than Amb. Umar Illiya Damagum as Acting National Chairman of the 1st Defendants/ Respondents or from giving effect to or acting upon any document purporting to be signed by the National Chairman or Acting National Chairman of the 1st Defendant without the name and signature of Amb. Umar Illiya Damagum, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed in Court in the instant suit,” the judgement stated.
