The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja when the party’s National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, openly disagreed in the courtroom.
The disagreement played out during a hearing of a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members seeking to halt the party’s planned National Convention. Both Damagum and Ajibade clashed over who held the authority to appoint a lawyer to represent the party in the case.
Damagum, who was present in court, had personally signed a letter authorizing Chief Chris Uche (SAN) to appear for the PDP. However, Ajibade, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, objected, insisting that only his office had the constitutional power to appoint legal representation for the party.
When the case, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, was called, Joseph Daudu (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs, Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabah George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
Drama unfolded as Chief Chris Uche, accompanied by more than five other senior lawyers, announced his appearance for the PDP. Ajibade immediately countered, also claiming representation for the same party in his capacity as National Legal Adviser.
Uche told the court he had a letter from the PDP National Chairman empowering him to act for the party. Ajibade, however, maintained that the PDP constitution granted him exclusive authority to handle such appointments and cited court judgments to support his claim.
Taken aback by the disagreement, Justice Omotosho paused proceedings for ten minutes, asking both party officials to reconcile their differences outside the courtroom.
After the break, the two returned to inform the court that they could not reach an agreement. Chief Uche then requested a short adjournment to give them time to resolve the issue.
Plaintiffs’ counsel, Daudu, urged the court to proceed with the case on the next date if the leadership dispute remained unresolved.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the hearing until Thursday, October 16, for continuation.
During Tuesday’s session, the judge also approved the inclusion of Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.
The three were joined based on separate applications argued by their counsels, Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Audu Anuga (SAN).
Erokoro argued that Damagum, as PDP National Chairman and head of the National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC), and Convention Committee, was a necessary party in the case.
Similarly, Anuga stated that Odefa and Ogidi, as senior PDP officers, would be directly affected by the case’s outcome.
However, Daudu opposed the joinder applications, contending that the plaintiffs did not seek any relief against the trio and that including them would serve no purpose.
In a brief ruling, Justice Omotosho held that Damagum, Odefa, and Ogidi were necessary parties who might be affected by the court’s decision. He granted their requests and ordered the plaintiffs to list them as additional defendants.
The judge also directed the plaintiffs to amend their court documents accordingly.
The first six defendants in the case are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, the NWC, and the NEC.
The plaintiffs filed the suit to restrain the party from holding its scheduled National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
