LHon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the opposition lawmakers coalition in the House of Representatives, has criticized a court order restraining the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Umar Damagun as Acting National Chairman.

Ugochinyere argued that the court order came after Damagun’s suspension and does not affect the PDP’s National Working Committee’s decision to appoint Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed as the new Acting National Chairman.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued the restraining order in response to a suit filed by Senator Umar El-Gash Maina.

The order states that national officers can only be elected at the party’s National Convention, scheduled for December next year.

Ugochinyere maintains that Alhaji Yayari Ahmed Mohammed remains the acting chair and calls for the courts to refrain from interfering in internal party affairs.

The controversy highlights the ongoing power struggle within the PDP.