…Drama as Damagum and Ajibade Fight Dirty Over Legal Representation
Fresh cracks within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) burst into the open on Tuesday as the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), clashed publicly in court over who has the authority to appoint legal counsel for the party.
The dramatic scene played out before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, during the hearing of a suit seeking to halt the PDP’s planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The suit was instituted by three party officials, Austin Nwachukwu, Imo PDP Chairman; Amah Nnanna, Abia PDP Chairman; and Turnah Alabh George, PDP Secretary for the South-South, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
When the case was called, Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN) appeared for the plaintiffs, while Chief Chris Uche (SAN) announced his appearance for the PDP, a move that immediately triggered confrontation. Uche presented a letter signed by the PDP National Chairman, Damagum, authorising him to represent the party. But moments later, Ajibade, who is the party’s National Legal Adviser, also announced his own appearance for the PDP, insisting that under the party’s constitution, he alone has the authority to appoint counsel.
“The power to brief lawyers on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party is vested solely in the office of the National Legal Adviser,” Ajibade declared, citing several judicial precedents to buttress his argument.
A visibly surprised Justice Omotosho stood down the matter for ten minutes to allow both officials to reconcile their differences outside the courtroom. However, when the case resumed, both men reported that no agreement had been reached.
Faced with the impasse, Chief Uche urged the court to grant a short adjournment to allow for an internal resolution. Counsel to the plaintiffs, Daudu, however, argued that the matter should proceed if the party fails to resolve the disagreement by the next sitting.
Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the hearing to October 16, directing both factions to harmonise their positions before then.
Earlier in the proceedings, the judge had granted motions for joinder filed by three top PDP figures — Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, South-East Zonal Vice Chairman Ali Odefa, and former Deputy National Chairman Emmanuel Ogidi — making them the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.
Damagum’s counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), argued that his client was a necessary party since he holds multiple leadership positions within the party — including National Chairman, head of both the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as chairman of the convention committee. Similarly, Audu Anuga (SAN), representing Odefa and Ogidi, told the court that the two officers would be directly affected by the court’s final decision.
Although the plaintiffs’ counsel opposed the applications, Justice Omotosho ruled in favour of the defendants, ordering that the three names be included in the case. The court also directed the plaintiffs to amend their originating processes accordingly.
The courtroom confrontation between Damagum and Ajibade has further exposed the deepening rift within the PDP, already grappling with leadership tensions ahead of its convention. Party insiders say the conflict reflects a broader struggle for control between the acting National Chairman’s camp and entrenched members of the National Working Committee.
With the Ibadan convention fast approaching, Tuesday’s courtroom drama underscores the PDP’s ongoing internal turmoil — a development many analysts fear could further weaken the party’s ability to position itself as a credible opposition force.