The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in a suit seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) planned national convention until Thursday, October 16, to allow the parties to resolve an “internal dispute over the party’s legal representation.”
Justice James Omotosho made the decision after a “heated disagreement” between two senior lawyers, Chris Uche and Kamaldeen Ajibade, both of whom “claiming to represent the PDP in the case.”
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Uche informed the court that he was instructed by the “PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum,” while Ajibade, the party’s National Legal Adviser, “insisted he alone was constitutionally empowered to appoint external counsel, citing relevant judicial authorities.”
The dispute led Justice Omotosho to instruct both men “to step out briefly to reconcile.”
Upon their return, Uche told the court that efforts to resolve the issue “had failed,” and urged the court to proceed, while Ajibade “maintained that the party’s internal rules must be followed.”
Ajibade also alleged he was threatened during the attempt at reconciliation:“He (Uche) saw the atmosphere outside where some of them were threatening that they would beat me up… I resolved that the matter cannot be resolved here in court. The Constitution of the party internally has to be followed.”
Uche countered the allegation, saying:“We made serious and deliberate efforts to resolve this minor matter. My Lord, here is a letter signed by the party’s national chairman himself, an instruction given to me.”
The suit, filed by PDP officials Austin Nwachukwu (Imo State Chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia State Chairman), and Turnah George (South-South Zonal Secretary), seeks to restrain the PDP from holding its national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
They also asked the court to “restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from monitoring the convention,” alleging “violations of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.”
During proceedings, two motions for joinder were filed—one by Paul Erokoro (SAN) for PDP National Chairman, Damagum, and another by Audu Anuga for Chief Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
Although plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), opposed the motions, Justice Omotosho ruled in favor of the applicants, joining Damagum, Odefa, and Ogidi as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho emphasized the need for internal resolution:“We will give the party an opportunity to resolve its internal issues. If they do not, I will not entertain any further delays. You are members of the same party—get these issues resolved. Politicians are funny, and I’ll say it again: judicial processes should not be made nugatory.”
He then adjourned the case until Thursday for the hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications, giving all parties “24 hours to file responses.”
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