PDP crisis worsens as chairman, legal adviser disagree in court

The internal crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic twist on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja when the party’s National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), openly disagreed over who has the authority to appoint legal representation for the party.

The disagreement erupted during the hearing of a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members seeking to stop the party’s planned National Convention.

The plaintiffs—Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia State PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabah George (PDP South-South Secretary)—are challenging the convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

When the case was called before Justice James Omotosho, Joseph Daudu (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs. However, confusion arose when Chief Chris Uche (SAN) announced his appearance for the PDP, based on a letter signed by Damagum authorizing him to represent the party.

Ajibade, who is the party’s National Legal Adviser, immediately countered the move, insisting that only he had the power to appoint lawyers on behalf of the PDP.

The confrontation prompted Justice Omotosho to ask both Damagum and Ajibade to step outside the courtroom to reconcile their positions.

After about 10 minutes, they returned without a resolution, forcing Uche to seek a short adjournment to allow further consultation.

Daudu, representing the plaintiffs, urged the court to proceed with the hearing if the leadership dispute remained unresolved by the next sitting.

Justice Omotosho thereafter adjourned the case to Thursday, October 16, for hearing.

In a related development, the court granted applications by three PDP leaders—Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi—to be joined as defendants in the suit.

Their respective counsels, Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Audu Anuga (SAN), argued that their clients were necessary parties who would be directly affected by the outcome of the case.

Despite opposition from the plaintiffs’ counsel, Justice Omotosho ruled that the trio were indeed necessary parties and ordered the plaintiffs to amend their processes to reflect them as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants.

The first six defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

The plaintiffs are seeking an order to halt preparations for the PDP’s planned national convention, where new national officers are expected to be elected.