ADC: Court strikes out suspension suit against Kingibe

Imposes N10m fine each on plaintiffs, lawyer

By Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has struck out a suit seeking to uphold the indefinite suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Delivering judgment in the case yesterday, Justice Peter Lifu held that issues relating to discipline and suspension within a political party remain the internal affairs of the party and do not require judicial intervention.

Justice Lifu questioned why the same party officials who suspended the senator approached the court to validate their own action, noting that it ought to have been the suspended senator challenging the disciplinary action if she felt aggrieved.

He said the plaintiffs’ decision to seek judicial endorsement of their action suggested a lack of confidence in their own position.

Justice Lifu subsequently described the suit as frivolous, baseless and unfounded.

Invoking Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, the judge awarded costs of N10 million against the plaintiffs in favour of Kingibe.

He also imposed an additional N10 million fine on the plaintiffs’ counsel for filing a frivolous suit, with the sum equally payable to the senator.

Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, was allegedly suspended on March 10 by the Wuse Ward executives.

The executive members accused her of alleged anti-party activities and disregard for the ADC constitution, a suspension said to have been ratified by two-thirds of the ward leadership.

The plaintiffs, Mr Okezuo Kanayo and Isaiah Samuel, instituted the action in suit marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026 on behalf of themselves and other ward members, with Kingibe listed as the sole defendant.

They asked the court to stop Kingibe from interfering in the administration of the ward, including access to the ward register and other official activities, arguing that the suspension followed due process as stipulated in the ADC constitution and was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the executive members.

Responding, the defendant’s counsel, identified as Abubakar, argued that the case ought to be dismissed with punitive costs, stressing that the party had a procedure for addressing such matters but that the plaintiffs failed to follow it.

“The defendant was never invited for anything, nor was there any complaint against her,” he said.

He added that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the suit, as they had themselves been suspended by the party. He urged the court to dismiss the matter in its entirety and award N25 million in punitive costs against the plaintiffs.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr I.G. Ogugua, urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s arguments.