The Federal High Court has been asked to stop the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, and other national leaders of the party from further acting in their capacities owing to their alleged violation of the party’s constitution.
The request forms a major relief in a suit filed by a former aide to Atiku Abubakar, who was the spokesman of the PDP during the last general elections and a former gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Sowumi.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/70/2024, Sowumi accused the national leadership of the party of hampering its fortune in future elections by failing to hold the mandatory National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party to enable its members to review the party’s activities, take critical decisions and plan for future elections.
Showumi, who stated that since the meeting was last held on September 8, 2022, during the tenure of the sacked Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, the new leadership under Umar Damagum has allegedly refused to convene NEC meeting despite demands by concerned party members.
The plaintiff stated that not only did the failure to hold the NEC meeting violate the party’s constitution, but it was inimical to the progress of the party and threatened his fortune and those of other members, who plan to contest future elections.
He wants the court to among others, issue an order of perpetual injunction restraining Damagum and other national leaders, including their agents “from functioning or continuing to function or discharge the functions of their offices until they call for or cause to be called and held meeting of the NEC of the PDP in total fidelity and obeisance to the PDP constitution.”
Sowumi, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Anderson Asemota, also wants the court to order the party’s leadership “to immediately call for or cause to be called and held the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the PDP to present the activities of the party from the date of the last NEC meeting which was held on 8th September 2022.”
He is equally seeking an order directing Damagum and others “to immediately call for or cause to be called and held the meeting of the NEC of the PDP to present the proposed guidelines and regulations governing the conduct of elections to the party offices at all levels and procedure for selecting party candidates for elective offices to the members of the NEC.”
Listed with Damagum as defendants in the suit are the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Nature (National Organizing Secretary), Okechukwu Daniel (National Auditor), Ahmed Yayari (National Treasurer), Muhammed Kadade (National Youth Leader) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Sowumi, in a supporting affidavit, stated that since the party participated in the last governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states, the reports of the elections have not been presented to the party as required.
He added that elections are coming up in Edo and Ondo state elections and the party needs to also plan and prepare ahead, “which preparation and planning can only be done at the meeting of the members of the NEC.
