The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the party’s National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, openly disagreed over who has the authority to appoint counsel for the party.
The courtroom 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 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Trouble began when Chief Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, backed by a letter personally signed by Damagum, announced his appearance for the PDP.
Moments later, Ajibade, countered the move, declaring that he alone, as the National Legal Adviser, was constitutionally empowered to appoint legal representation for the party.
When the matter was called before Justice James Omotosho, Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appeared for the three plaintiffs — Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
However, the session quickly descended into confusion as both Uche and Ajibade insisted on representing the PDP, each citing separate authorities and constitutional provisions to justify their positions.
Visibly taken aback, Justice Omotosho stood down the proceedings for ten minutes, directing the two PDP officials to resolve their disagreement outside the courtroom. But when the session resumed, both sides reported that no resolution had been reached.
Chief Uche then requested a short adjournment to enable further consultations, a request the plaintiffs’ counsel, Daudu, did not oppose but urged the court to proceed with the hearing if the dispute persisted on the next date.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case to Thursday, October 16, 2025, for further hearing.
In a separate ruling during Tuesday’s proceedings, the judge granted applications by Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi to be joined as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.
Their respective counsel, Paul Erokoro and Audu Anuga, both Senior Advocates, argued that their clients were necessary parties who would be directly affected by the outcome of the case, a position opposed by Daudu.
Justice Omotosho, however, upheld the applications, ruling that their inclusion was essential for a fair determination of the matter. He directed the plaintiffs to amend their originating processes accordingly.
The first six defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organizing Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The plaintiffs are seeking an order to halt the forthcoming PDP national convention where new national officers are expected to emerge, pending the resolution of internal disputes within the party.
