The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has lauded the judgment of Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, which gave the go-ahead for the party’s national convention scheduled for November 15–26, 2025, in Ibadan.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees in Abuja on Wednesday, Damagum praised the court for its courage in the face of what he described as “judicial intimidation and moral compromise.”

“In a time when some have sought to manipulate our courts and intimidate our judges, it takes bravery to stand for the truth and defend the law,” he said. “His judgment is not just a victory for our party but for democracy itself.”

He added that the PDP must embrace unity and reconciliation ahead of the convention, saying, “When I assumed office, I met a divided house. What our party needed most was healing, not vengeance.”

Damagum stressed that his decisions, often misunderstood, were aimed at keeping the PDP intact. “I chose the party—not individuals, not factions, but the enduring institution of the PDP that shall outlive us all,” he said. “Our next National Working Committee must possess courage and integrity to rebuild trust and reposition the PDP as a credible opposition.”