PDP Leadership Crisis Deepens As Damagum And Ajibade Clash In Court Over Legal Representation

The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another turn on Tuesday as the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, engaged in a heated argument inside a Federal High Court in Abuja over who has the authority to appoint lawyers to represent the party.

The drama unfolded during a suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members—Austin Nwachukwu from Imo, Amah Abraham Nnanna from Abia, and Turnah Alabh George from the South-South—seeking to halt the party’s planned National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Tension began when Chief Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced his appearance for the PDP, presenting a letter signed by the National Chairman mandating him to handle the case. However, Ajibade, who also appeared in court, objected and insisted that as the party’s Legal Adviser, he alone had the constitutional power to appoint legal representation.

The disagreement threw the court into confusion as both men stood their ground. Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, was forced to suspend the hearing for ten minutes, urging both officials to resolve the matter outside the courtroom.

After a brief meeting, Damagum and Ajibade returned without reaching a resolution. Chief Uche then requested a short adjournment to give room for further consultations, while counsel to the plaintiffs, Joseph Daudu, asked the court to proceed with the case if the PDP leadership failed to settle their dispute by the next sitting.

Justice Omotosho later adjourned the matter to Thursday, October 16, for hearing.

During the proceedings, the judge also approved the inclusion of Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi as new defendants in the case, following separate applications by their lawyers, Paul Erokoro and Audu Anuga, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria. The court ruled that the three were necessary parties who could be affected by the final judgment.

The plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Daudu, opposed the joinder, arguing that his clients sought no reliefs against them. However, the judge ruled in favor of the request and directed the plaintiffs to update their filings to include the new defendants.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, and key party officials were already listed as the first six defendants in the case.

The suit marks another blow to the PDP, which has been battling deep divisions, mass defections, and leadership struggles ahead of its upcoming convention meant to elect new national officers.