The spokesperson for the coalition of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has criticized the recent court order that restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from removing Umar Damagun as the Acting National Chairman.
In a statement released on Friday, Ugochinyere emphasized that the court’s ruling did not prevent the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) from taking action against Damagun prior to the suspension.
He pointed out that there was no Federal or State High Court order that warranted Damagun’s continued leadership following what he described as a “long overdue removal.”
The controversy stems from the PDP’s decision to suspend Damagun and subsequently appoint Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed, the current National Treasurer, as the Acting National Chairman.
This decision came despite Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issuing a restraining order that reaffirmed Damagun’s position until the party’s national convention scheduled for December next year.
Ugochinyere criticized the timing of Justice Lifu’s order, suggesting it favoured a faction of the party aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, who has been a controversial figure within the PDP.
He maintained that Mohammed remains the acting chair as the party prepares for an upcoming NEC meeting later this month.
Additionally, Ugochinyere called for the courts to refrain from intervening in internal party affairs, insisting that the PDP should resolve its leadership disputes independently.