Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has defended his decision to sign a controversial letter to the Appeal Court regarding the case of the 27 embattled members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This action was contrary to the stance of the party’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Ajibade, SAN.
Damagum explained that his decision was based on precedents and emphasized that both he and the party’s National Secretary are authorized signatories for the PDP. He assured that the decision was made after consulting with his team.
He made these comments on Wednesday during the inauguration of the party’s Disciplinary and Reconciliation Committees, led by Chief Tom Ikimi and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, respectively.
Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, had previously criticized Damagum and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, for their actions regarding the Appeal Court matter.
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Ologbondiyan accused them of violating the party’s constitution by bypassing the National Legal Adviser, who, under Section 42 (1) of the party’s constitution, is responsible for nominating legal representation.
Additionally, opposition federal lawmakers, led by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, have alleged that Damagum and Anyanwu are undermining the party’s interests in Rivers State. They claim that Damagum and Anyanwu opposed the National Legal Adviser’s efforts to neutralize the sacked pro-Wike lawmakers, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and pose a threat to PDP interests and the potential removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ugochinyere noted that a Rivers State High Court had issued an ex parte order on July 8, 2024, restraining state officials from engaging with the defected lawmakers. However, Dr. J.Y. Musa, SAN, reportedly filed an appeal against this order, contrary to the position of the PDP’s National Legal Adviser.
He said, “The National Legal Adviser, constitutionally empowered to protect the interests of the PDP, had already moved to withdraw the appeal on July 24, 2024, recognizing its potential harm to the party.
“However, in a shocking turn of events, on August 15, 2024, Damagum and Anyanwu sent a letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, dissociating themselves from the withdrawal, effectively undermining the Legal Adviser’s authority,” Ugochinyere said.
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However, responding for the first time on the crisis, Damagum said, “I also want to use this opportunity to clear certain insinuations that have been trending on social media. Last I checked, the signatories of this party are the chairman and the secretary.
“Just because the chairman and secretary signed a letter, it has become an issue. People are making all sorts of insinuations about it. I don’t want to engage with the other person—it’s a distraction.
“But it pains me when I see someone who knows the workings of the NWC going on television to mislead the audience and say things that are not correct. It is painful. Very, very painful.
“There is precedent for what we did. During Kashamu’s case, the chairman and secretary brought it to the Supreme Court. There was also the issue of Anambra.
“Two issues arose. The chairman and secretary, in any situation, work as a team. I don’t make decisions without consulting my members,” the acting PDP national chairman stated.
