PDP National Chairman Fights Legal Adviser in Court, as Officials Seek Stoppage of Ibadan Convention

The lingering crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dramatic turn on Friday when the National Chairman, Illiya Umar Damagun and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN squared up to each other in open court over who has the right to represent the party.

The drama took place during the hearing of a suit file by three members of the party seeking to stop the  scheduled November 15, 2025  National Convention of the party.

In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, three plaintiffs who are also party officers,  Hon. Austin Nwachukwu, Chairman PDP, Imo State, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, Charman, PDP Abia State and Hon. Turnah Alabh George, PDP Secretary, South-South are seeking to stop the convention pending the resolution of the lingering crisis in the party.

At the hearing, Damagum, who was physically present in court, in a letter he personally signed, mandated Chris Uche, SAN, to represent PDP in the suit,  while Barr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, insisted that he was the only authority that can appoint legal representation for the party as the National Legal Adviser of the party.

When the matter was called before Justice James Omotosho, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, announced appearance for the three plaintiffs, namely

However, tensions rose  when Chris Uche, SAN, with more than five other SANs, announced appearance for PDP, a move that was immediately countered by Ajibade, the PDP National Legal Adviser, who also announced appearance for the same party.

As the drama continued, Mr.  Uche informed Justice Omotosho that he had a letter from the PDP National Chairman appointing him to represent the party in the suit. But Ajibade replied that he is the sole authority vested with power by PDP Constitution to appoint legal representation for the party and cited some judgements to that effect.

Apparently taken aback by the development, Justice Omotosho stood down the hearing of the matter for 10 minutes for the National Chairman and the National Legal Adviser to go out of the courtroom to put their house in order.

At the end of the 10 minutes, the two parties reported that they were unable to reconcile on legal representation, prompting Uche to seek for a short adjournment to enable the National Chairman and the National Legal Adviser reconcile their differences.

At this point, Daudu, who stood for the plaintiffs, pleaded with the judge to go ahead into the hearing of his clients’ matter if, on the adjourned date, the two parties are unable to resolve their differences.

Justice Omotosho subsequently fixed Thursday, October 16, 2025, for hearing of the matter.

Also, the presiding judge joined Umar Iliya Damagum, Mr. Ali Odefa and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as 7th, 8th and 9th defendants in the suit after the court determined that had valid interest in the matter.

Justice Omotosho, in a ruling, joined Damagum, Ali Odefa and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th, 8th and 9th defendants in the suit.

They were joined after the court heard two separate applications that were argued by their lawyers, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and Audu Anuga, SAN.

Erokoro, SAN, while arguing for Damagum’s inclusion as a defendant in the matter, insisted that he was a necessary party in view of his position as the National Chairman of PDP, Chairman of its National Working Committee, NWC, Chairman of the National Executive Committee, NEC, as well as the Chairman of the Convention Committee.

Similarly, Anuga, SAN in his submissions for the inclusion of Odefa and Ogidi, told the court that the duo are officers of the party who would be affected one way or the other by the outcome of the case

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Daudu, SAN, opposed the applications and urged the court to dismiss them.

He contended that the plaintiffs did not seek any relief against those that sought to be joined, adding that the matter before the court could be effectively resolved without their input.

In his brief ruling, Justice Omotosho said he was minded to allow the applicants to be a part of the case considering the positions they occupy in the PDP.

Describing them as necessary parties, the court said it was satisfied that they would be affected by the outcome of the case.

Consequently, the court ordered the plaintiffs to amend the processes to reflect the names of the applicants as the 7th, 8th and 9th defendants

Other defendants in the matter are the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; the PDP;  the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Umar Baturrle; the NWC, as well as the NEC of the party.