Court Rejects Bid to Bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from ADC Party Activities
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Wuse Ward, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in all party activities following her alleged suspension. Instead, the judge ordered the ward leaders to serve the senator with court processes, enabling her to appear and defend herself in the legal proceedings.
Judicial Discretion and Fair Hearing Emphasized
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Lifu held that discretion in requests for prohibition from party activities, especially in political matters, must be exercised judicially and judiciously. The judge emphasized that justice would only be served in the case when both sides—the plaintiffs and the defendant—are heard on their merits. Consequently, he directed that Senator Ireti Kingibe be formally notified of the suit to prepare her defense adequately.
The court has scheduled April 20, 2026, for the plaintiffs and Senator Kingibe to appear for a hearing on all applications in the matter. The plaintiffs in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, are Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, acting on behalf of themselves and other ward members. Senator Kingibe is listed as the sole defendant in the case.
Background of the Dispute and Allegations
In their ex-parte application, the plaintiffs alleged that Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, was suspended on March 10, 2026, by her Wuse Ward executives. The suspension was based on accusations of anti-party activities and disregard for the ADC constitution. The application, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kolawole Olowookere, sought an interim injunction to restrain Kingibe from presenting herself as a party member pending the hearing of a motion for an interlocutory injunction.
The aggrieved ADC members also requested the court to prevent the senator from performing any functions, attending meetings, or engaging in activities reserved for ADC members, as well as from interfering with the administration of the ward, including the ward register and other operations. The suit outlines five grounds, including claims that Kingibe was suspended due to anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and confiscation of statutory ward records.
The plaintiffs argued that the suspension followed due process as outlined in the ADC constitution and was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee (EXCO) members. They further averred that despite being notified of her suspension, Kingibe has continued to hold parallel meetings, issue press statements as an ADC member, and use her security details to intimidate the executive committee, actions they described as a flagrant disregard for the party's internal mechanisms.
Legal Developments and Preliminary Objection
Meanwhile, during the proceedings, a lawyer named Abubakar Marshall, claiming to represent Senator Kingibe, announced that he had filed a preliminary objection against the suit. He stated that the objection had been served on M. S. Garba, who represented the plaintiffs at Thursday's hearing. This development sets the stage for further legal arguments as the case progresses toward the scheduled hearing date.
