Eleven of the seventeen members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have rejected the appointment of Dr. J.Y. Musa, an ally of Minister Nyesom Wike, as the party’s legal representative at the Appeal and Supreme Courts.
On January 21, 2025, the dissenting members of the NWC submitted a petition rejecting the appointment made by Acting National Chairman Amb. Iliya Damagum. They argued that this decision violated the party’s constitution. According to Article 42 of the PDP constitution, the authority to appoint external solicitors is exclusively held by the National Legal Adviser.
The dispute centers on Musa’s involvement in the Stay of Execution and Appeal filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary removed by the Enugu Appeal Court on December 20, 2024. Critics within the National Working Committee (NWC) see this appointment as Wike’s attempt to influence ongoing legal cases, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Amid growing tensions within the PDP leadership, members are calling for strict adherence to constitutional procedures to preserve party unity.
