PDP Implodes In Court: National Chairman, Legal Adviser Clash Over Who Controls Party’s Legal Power

Drama as Justice Omotosho halts proceedings, orders Damagum, Ajibade to “put their house in order”

The internal crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exploded into the open on Tuesday as two of its top officers — National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) — engaged in a dramatic power tussle inside a Federal High Court in Abuja.

At the heart of the heated confrontation was a battle for supremacy over who holds the constitutional authority to appoint lawyers to represent the opposition party in a politically charged lawsuit aimed at stopping its planned National Convention.

The suit, filed by three aggrieved PDP members — Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP Chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) — seeks to restrain the party from holding its National Convention slated for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, where new national officers are to be elected.

Courtroom Drama Unfolds

When the matter came up before Justice James Omotosho, renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu announced his appearance for the three plaintiffs. Trouble began moments later when Chief Chris Uche (SAN), accompanied by a team of five other SANs, announced his appearance for the PDP — an announcement that was instantly challenged by Ajibade, the party’s National Legal Adviser, who also claimed to represent the PDP.

A visibly surprised courtroom watched as the two top lawyers traded legal justifications for several minutes. Chris Uche informed the court that he had been personally appointed by National Chairman Damagum through a signed letter, authorizing him to represent the PDP in the suit. However, Ajibade fired back, citing provisions of the PDP Constitution that vest exclusive power to appoint legal representation in his office, not the chairman’s.

The confrontation grew so intense that Justice Omotosho had to intervene, standing down the proceedings for ten minutes and ordering both party officials to step outside and reconcile.

When the court reconvened, both Damagum and Ajibade reported that they had failed to reach an agreement on who should legally represent the PDP. Chris Uche (SAN) subsequently requested a short adjournment to allow time for reconciliation, while Daudu urged the judge to proceed with the case if the disagreement persisted.

Justice Omotosho eventually adjourned the hearing to Thursday, October 16, giving the warring PDP factions time to “put their house in order.”

In a separate development, the court also granted applications to join Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the case (FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025).

Senior lawyers Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Audu Anuga (SAN), who represented the trio, argued that their inclusion was necessary because they hold key positions within the PDP and would be directly affected by any ruling on the convention.

Although the plaintiffs’ counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), strongly opposed the move, arguing that no reliefs were sought against them, Justice Omotosho held that their positions made them indispensable to the case and granted the joinder applications.

The court also directed the plaintiffs to amend their filings to reflect the new defendants. The first six defendants remain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Umar Bature (National Organizing Secretary), and the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Power Struggle Deepens

The dramatic courtroom showdown highlights the deepening cracks within the PDP’s leadership ahead of its crucial convention. The open confrontation between the National Chairman and the National Legal Adviser — both senior members of the same party — has further exposed the factional divisions threatening to tear the PDP apart.

Political observers say the outcome of the ongoing legal battle could determine the future leadership structure of the opposition party — and possibly its survival ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Leave a comment