Convention: Drama As PDP National Chairman, Legal Adviser Clash In Court
There was drama at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday between the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Iliya Damagum, and the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.
During the hearing of a suit seeking to stop the party’s planned National Convention, instituted by three aggrieved members, Damagum and Ajibade battled for several minutes over who has the power to appoint a lawyer to represent the party.
Damagum, who was physically present in the court, had in a letter he personally signed, mandated Chris Uche, SAN, to represent PDP in the suit.
However, Ajibade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, insisted that he was the only authority that could appoint legal representation for the party.
Trouble, however, started when Chris Uche, SAN, with more than five other SANs, announced appearance for PDP, a move that was immediately countered by Ajibade, the PDP National Legal Adviser, who also announced appearance for the same party.
In the drama that ensued, Uche informed Justice James Omotosho that he had a letter from the PDP National Chairman appointing him to represent the party in the suit. But Ajibade replied that he is the sole authority vested with power by PDP Constitution to appoint legal representation for the party and cited some judgements to that effect.
Justice Omotosho had to stand down the hearing of the matter for 10 minutes, asking the National Chairman and the National Legal Adviser to go out of the courtroom to put their house in order.
At the end of the 10 minutes, the two parties reported that they were unable to reconcile on legal representation, prompting Uche to seek a short adjournment to enable the National Chairman and the National Legal Adviser to reconcile their differences.
At this point, Joseph Daudu, SAN, who had earlier announced his appearance for the three plaintiffs, namely Austin Nwachukwu, Imo PDP chairman, Amah Abraham Nnanna, Abia PDP chairman, and Turnah Alabh George, PDP Secretary, South-South, pleaded with the judge to go ahead into the hearing of his clients’ matter if, on the adjourned date, the two parties are unable to resolve their differences.
Justice Omotosho subsequently fixed Thursday, October 16, 2025, for hearing of the matter.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
