By Kabiru Abdulrauf
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned till October 16 the hearing of a suit seeking to stop the planned national convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The suit was filed by three party officials,Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and George Turnah (PDP Secretary, South-South) who asked the court to halt the convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
However, Tuesday’s proceedings took an unexpected turn when the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), clashed openly in court over who had the authority to appoint the party’s legal representatives.
Damagum, who was physically present in court, had through a letter personally signed by him, mandated Chris Uche (SAN) to represent the PDP in the matter.
Ajibade, however, objected, insisting that under the PDP Constitution, only the National Legal Adviser is empowered to appoint legal representation for the party.
Uche informed the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo Omotosho, that he had received a written mandate from the PDP National Chairman authorizing him to appear for the party. Ajibade countered by citing provisions of the party constitution and past judicial precedents to support his position.
Apparently taken aback by the disagreement, Justice Omotosho stood down proceedings for ten minutes and directed both Damagum and Ajibade to “step outside and put their house in order.”
After the brief recess, both men returned to the courtroom but reported that they were unable to reach a resolution.
Consequently, Uche sought a short adjournment to allow the party’s leadership time to reconcile their differences.
Justice Omotosho subsequently joined Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit.
The first six defendants are: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the PDP; Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary); Umar Bature (National Organising Secretary); the National Working Committee (NWC); and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
