The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, as the party’s National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, openly clashed over who has the authority to appoint legal counsel for the party.
The confrontation occurred during the hearing of a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members seeking to stop the party’s planned National Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The plaintiffs—Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South)—were represented by Joseph Daudu, SAN.
Drama unfolded when Chief Chris Uche, SAN, backed by more than five other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, announced his appearance for the PDP based on a letter personally signed by Damagum. However, Ajibade, also a SAN, immediately objected, asserting that only the National Legal Adviser has constitutional authority to appoint legal representatives for the party. He cited several judgments to support his position.
Visibly concerned by the internal dispute, Justice James Omotosho stood down proceedings for ten minutes to allow both party officials to resolve the issue privately. When the session resumed, both men reported that no agreement had been reached. Consequently, Uche requested a short adjournment to enable further reconciliation, while Daudu urged the court to proceed with the hearing if the disagreement persists.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the matter to Thursday, October 16, for further hearing.
In a related ruling, the court joined Damagum, along with Ali Odefa and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), following applications by their respective counsels, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and Audu Anuga, SAN. The plaintiffs had opposed their inclusion, but the court held that the trio were necessary parties likely to be affected by the outcome.
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Justice Omotosho directed the plaintiffs to amend their filings to reflect the new defendants, alongside the existing six: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, and both the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
The suit seeks to halt the PDP’s forthcoming National Convention, where new national officers are expected to emerge—an event now clouded by deepening internal discord at the highest levels of the party’s leadership.
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