Court strikes out suspension suit against Senator Ireti Kingibe

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

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

Delivering judgement in the case on Friday, 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 a cost 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.

The Wuse Ward executives, on March 10, 2026, allegedly suspended Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate.

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.