The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order that prevents the Peoples Democratic Party from choosing anyone to take Umar Damagum's place as its Temporary National Chairman.
This order will stay in place until the court makes a decision on a lawsuit brought by two party leaders.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling based on an urgent affidavit submitted by the plaintiffs.
The lawsuit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024, was filed by Senator Umar Maina and Alhaji Zanna Gaddama.
The defendants in the case, listed as the 1st to 5th defendants, include the PDP, its National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The court stated that the defendants are temporarily prevented from selecting anyone to replace Ambassador Umar Damagum as the National Chairman or Temporary National Chairman of the party until the hearing on May 14, 2024.
The defendants are also temporarily forbidden from acknowledging anyone other than Ambassador Damagum as the Temporary National Chairman or carrying out any documents signed by the National Chairman or Temporary National Chairman without Ambassador Umar Illiya Damagum's name and signature until the hearing on the Motion on Notice.
The Applicants are ordered to provide an undertaking to pay damages to the Respondents if it is found that the order should not have been granted or the Court was misled.
The return date for the hearing of the Motion on Notice is set for May 14, 2024, according to the ex-parte order made on May 3 but obtained by newsmen on Wednesday.
Damagum has withstood numerous attempts to oust him from his position.
Damagum, who previously served as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), took on the role of acting National Chairman after the court suspended the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The PDP’s National Working Committee has consistently shown its full support for Damagum.
