Court Rejects Attempt to Prevent Ireti Kingibe from Participating in ADC Activities Despite Alleged Suspension

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected an application seeking to prevent Senator Ireti Kingibe from taking part in the affairs of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following a controversy surrounding her alleged suspension by party officials in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The dispute stems from claims that the FCT Senator, who recently defected from the Labour Party to the ADC, was sanctioned over alleged misconduct.

Senator Ireti Kingibe officially joined the ADC on December 18, 2025, just months after announcing her exit from the Labour Party, the platform under which she secured victory in the 2023 general elections.

Delivering a ruling on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu held that granting such a sweeping order without hearing from the senator would be inappropriate. He emphasised that courts must exercise caution and fairness, particularly in political matters.

“The interest of justice would only be served when the defendant is heard on the issues raised alongside those of the plaintiffs,” the judge ruled.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was instituted by Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, representing ADC members in Wuse Ward, Abuja. Through their lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kolawole Olowookere, the plaintiffs sought an interim injunction to stop Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the party or engaging in its activities pending the resolution of the suit.

They further requested that the court restrain her from attending meetings, carrying out party functions, or accessing ward documents and records.

According to the plaintiffs, Kingibe was suspended on March 10, 2026, by the Wuse Ward Executive Committee over alleged anti-party conduct, misconduct, and the alleged seizure of official ward documents.

They argued that the disciplinary action complied with the party’s constitution and was endorsed by a two-thirds majority of the ward’s executive members.

The plaintiffs also alleged that despite being informed of the suspension, the senator continued to act in a partisan capacity, holding separate meetings, issuing public statements, and allegedly deploying security personnel to intimidate ward officials.

“Her actions constitute flagrant disregard to the internal mechanism of the party,” the plaintiffs stated.

However, the court declined to grant the request made without notice to the defendant and instead directed that all legal processes be served on Kingibe to allow her respond to the allegations. The matter was adjourned to April 20, 2026, for hearing.

During proceedings, a lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, who said he was representing the senator, informed the court that a preliminary objection challenging the suit had already been filed and served on the plaintiffs.

ADC Leadership Debunks Suspension 

In an earlier statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the reports as inaccurate.

“The African Democratic Congress is unaware of any suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe, the distinguished senator representing the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement read.

“As a law-abiding political party, the ADC has clear constitutional channels and procedures for addressing any allegations involving its members. Such matters are handled through established internal mechanisms, not through press statements.

“We therefore urge the public and the media to disregard the reports suggesting that Senator Ireti Kingibe has been suspended by the party, as they are false and misleading.”

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