JUST-IN: Court Refuses Bid To Bar FCT Senator Kingibe From ADC Activities

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in the activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following a dispute over her alleged suspension by party officials in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial district.

In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu held that such a far-reaching order could not be granted without first hearing from the lawmaker. He stressed that judicial discretion in political matters must be exercised “judicially and judiciously.”

“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 suit case marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, which listed Senator Kingibe as the sole defendant, was filed by Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel on behalf of ADC members in Wuse Ward, Abuja. The plaintiffs had approached the court through their counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kolawole Olowookere, seeking an interim injunction to restrain Kingibe from parading herself as a party member or participating in party affairs pending the determination of the case.

They also asked the court to stop the female lawmaker from attending meetings, performing party-related functions, or interfering in the administration of the ward, including access to its register and records.

The plaintiffs anchored their application on claims that Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, was suspended on March 10, 2026, by the Wuse Ward Executive Committee over alleged anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and confiscation of statutory ward documents.

According to them, the suspension followed due process as outlined in the ADC constitution and was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the ward’s executive members.

They further alleged that despite being formally notified of her suspension, the Senator continued to act as a party member, holding parallel meetings, issuing press statements, and allegedly using security personnel to intimidate ward executives.

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

However, Justice Lifu declined to grant the ex-parte application and instead ordered that Kingibe be served with all court processes to enable her respond to the allegations.

The court subsequently fixed April 20, 2026, for all parties to appear and argue their respective applications.

Meanwhile, a lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, who appeared in court claiming to represent the Senator Kingibe, informed the court that a preliminary objection had already been filed against the suit. He added that the application had been served on the plaintiffs’ counsel.