The Deputy National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okey Osuoha, has accused the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, of gross incompetence and leadership failure, insisting that the court’s ruling halting the planned national convention must be obeyed before any further action is taken.
Speaking on ARISE News on Saturday, Osuoha said the court’s judgment was unambiguous and placed the party under obligation to follow due process in line with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the PDP’s constitution before convening its national convention.
“Our democracy has come of age, and for any democratic society to thrive, it must abide by the rule of law. The court has ruled clearly that the PDP convention is on hold until the proper things are done,” Osuoha said.
He explained that the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to monitor or engage with the PDP until the party fully complies with the law.
“The issue now is not about holding a convention but about putting our house in order. Impunity cannot be allowed to continue in Nigeria,” he added.
On the internal suspensions and counter-suspensions rocking the party, Osuoha dismissed reports of his own suspension as “social media fabrication,” describing the entire process as unconstitutional.
“The only valid suspension was the one carried out at an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) properly convened by the National Secretary, where the Acting National Chairman was suspended for incompetence and poor leadership. The NWC subsequently appointed the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abdulrahman Mohammed, as Acting Chairman,” he said.
Osuoha accused Damagum of failing to provide leadership and allowing impunity to fester within the party, alleging that his actions had plunged the PDP into crisis and alienated critical members.
“This tenure of Ambassador Damagum is horrible, embarrassing and unfortunate. We are shooting ourselves in the leg. The court was clear that we must obey the rule of law, yet the chairman continues to act outside due process,” he stated.
He also cited judicial rulings that invalidated the membership and position of certain party officials, including former South-East National Vice Chairman Ali Odefa, whom the court upheld as expelled but who, according to Osuoha, continues to attend party meetings under Damagum’s watch.
“Allowing someone expelled by the court to participate in party decisions makes everything done in such meetings null and void. This is why I say the party must return to order,” he said.
On whether reconciliation is possible within the PDP, Osuoha said it was the duty of leadership to initiate genuine dialogue rather than deepen divisions through arbitrary decisions.
“If there are grievances, the law provides that you seek redress in court, not take the law into your hands. The chairman should have convened a reconciliation meeting, but instead, they went to the media to announce suspensions. This shows a lack of leadership and diplomacy,” he lamented.
The PDP deputy legal adviser further suggested that “moles” might have infiltrated the party to destabilise it from within.
“I have begun to see that maybe some of these people were planted to destroy the party. Otherwise, how can any right-thinking leader sideline the National Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and National Organising Secretary — all critical offices elected in 2021 — and still claim to run the party properly?” he queried.
He called on party stakeholders to rescue the PDP from internal sabotage and restore its status as a credible opposition.
“We need to have a strong opposition party for the sake of democracy and the nation. PDP must return to legality, unity, and leadership guided by law,” Osuoha concluded.
Boluwatife Enome
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