PDP Alleges Compromise, Drops Legal Adviser In Suit Seeking To Stop Convention
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has dropped its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, over the ongoing legal battle concerning the party’s forthcoming national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PDP NWC alleged that Ajibade has compromised in the ongoing legal battle.
In a letter dated October 13 and addressed to the Deputy Registrar of the Federal High Court, the PDP NWC announced the appointment of Chris Uche, SAN, as the party’s new legal representative in court.
The letter, which the court received on Thursday and was exclusively obtained by PUNCH Online on Friday, was signed by the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, along with 13 other NWC members.
Meanwhile, PDP National Executive Committee members, including Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor and former National Vice Chairman (South West) Eddy Olafeso, restated their resolve to continue with preparations for the national convention scheduled for November, pending the Court’s verdict.
The NEC members emphasised that the party’s constitution and internal democracy must guide all preparatory activities leading to the convention.
The letter read in part, “We the undersigned, being the elected members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, which Organ of the Party, by virtue of Section 29 of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), is vested with the responsibility to administer the affairs of the Party hereby affirm and confirm that the Letter of Instructions dated 10th October, 2025 and signed by the National Chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum appointing Chief Chris Uche SAN as external solicitor to represent the Peoples Democratic Party in the above-mentioned Suit is the unanimous resolution and decision of the NWC with regard to the pending Suit before the Honourable Justice Kolawole Omotosho.
“For clarity, Section 29 (2)(b) of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), further empowers the NWC to act on behalf of the National Executive Committee an Organ of the Party which decisions by virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) are binding on all Organs and members of the Party.
“The appointment of the external solicitors by the National Chairman on behalf of the Party is sequel to the resolution of the NWC at its 607th meeting on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, wherein the NWC considered the conduct of the National Legal Adviser of the Party, A.K. Ajibade SAN, and his continuing compromising position in his handling of cases relating to the Party.
“Please accept the assurances of the highest regard of the National Working Committee always.”
Reacting in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Friday, Osadolor said recent developments indicate that certain counterforces are working against the PDP National Convention.
He said, “Well, we can see that there are counterforces against the convention holding for diverse reasons. Some say they want the PDP to fail, others insist the party must do things strictly by the book, and some don’t even know why they are opposing the convention.
“However, the Ibadan convention remains fixed; the convention has not been postponed, and preparations are ongoing.”
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.
