The Katsina State High Court has blocked an attempt to unseat PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum. The lawsuit, filed by a party member, challenged Damagum’s appointment after Iyorchia Ayu’s controversial exit. The court ruled that the leadership crisis is an internal affair of the party.
The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn as the Katsina State High Court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to unseat the current National Chairman, Umar Iliya Damagum. The court ruling, delivered by Justice Abdullahi Bawa-Faskari, marks a pivotal moment in the year-long internal strife within the opposition party.
The suit, filed by a PDP member, Ibrahim Musa, sought to nullify the Acting PDP National Chairman appointment, claiming it violated the party’s constitution. Musa argued that Damagum’s succession to former Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the North-Central zone, was unconstitutional since the new chairman was selected from a different geopolitical zone.
However, Justice Bawa-Faskari rejected the suit, emphasizing that the matter pertains to the party’s internal affairs and falls outside the jurisdiction of the court. The judge upheld the preliminary objections raised by the defendants, stating that the issue was “not justiciable” as it involved internal party dynamics.
This ruling is a significant win for the PDP Acting National Chairman, who has faced mounting pressure and political wrangling since his appointment in 2023. His ascension followed Ayu’s controversial exit after months of party infighting, with factions attempting to realign the leadership structure. The PDP has struggled to maintain unity since Ayu’s departure, with Damagum emerging as a central figure in the ongoing power tussle within the party.
