By TAIYE AGBAJE

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, and its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, on Tuesday, disagreed in court on Who has the power to appoint lawyer to represent the party.

The development occurred at the hearing of a suit seeking to stop the PDP?s planned national convention before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

While Damagum, who was present in court, in a letter he personally signed, mandated Chief Chris Uche, SAN, to represent PDP in the suit, Ajibade insisted that he was the only authority that could appoint legal representation for the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiffs; Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had filed the suit.

They had sued Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

The plaintiffs had instituted the suit to stop the planned Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 National Convention of PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where it?s new national officers are expected to be elected.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Joseph Daudu, SAN, announced appearance for the three plaintiffs.

But Chief Uche, with more than five other senior advocates, announced appearance for PDP, the move that was immediately countered by Ajibade, who also announced appearance for the same party.

Uche informed Justice Omotosho that he had a letter from national chairman, appointing him to represent the party in the suit while, at the same time, Ajibade replied that he was the sole authority vested with power by PDP constitution to appoint legal representation for the party.

Ajibade cited some judgements to back his argument.

The judge then stood down the hearing of the matter for ten minutes to allow Damagun and Ajibade resolve their differences.

Meanwhile when the case was recalled, the two parties reported that they were unable to reconcile on legal representation, prompting Uche to seek for a short adjournment to enable Damagun and Ajibade agree on a common ground.

Responding, Daudu, who appeared for the plaintiffs, prayed the judge to go ahead into the hearing of his client?s matter if on the next adjourned date, the two parties were unable to resolve their differences.

Justice Omotosho subsequently fixed Oct. 16 for the hearing of the matter.

Earlier, the judge joined Umar Damagum, Ali Odefa and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as 7th, 8th and 9th defendants in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025.

They were joined in two separate applications argued by their respective lawyers, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and Audu Anuga, SAN.

Erokoro, while arguing Damagum?s motion for joinder, informed the court that he was a necessary party on account of his being the party?s national chairman; chairman of the National Working Committee (NWC), chairman of the National Executive Committee as well as the chairman of the convention committee.

Anuga, while moving the motion for joinder on Odefa and Ogidi?s behalf, told the court that the two were officers of the PDP, who would be affected one way or the oher by the outcome of the case.

Although Daudu vehemently opposed the application, the judge granted the request.

He then ordered the three plaintiffs to join them as 7th, 8th and 9th defendants respectively.

The judge also ordered the plaintiffs to effect consequential amendments for the names of the three people to reflect in the processes that would be filed in respect of the matter.

NAN reports that Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was also present in court. (NAN)

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