From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has rejected a move by leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Wuse Ward of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to restrain Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in all activities of the party following her alleged suspension.
Justice Peter Lifu, rather than grant the request, ordered the ward leaders to put the senator on notice to appear in court to join issues with them on their grievances.
The judge, in his ruling, held that discretion in such a request for prohibition from party activities and in political matters must be exercised judicially and judiciously.
He said justice would be met in the case of the plaintiffs only when the side of the defendant is heard on its merits, along with that of the plaintiffs.
Consequently, the judge ordered that Senator Ireti Kingibe should be served with all court processes by the plaintiffs to enable her to become aware of the suit and to prepare her defence.
The judge fixed April 20, 2026, for the plaintiffs and the serving senator to appear before him for the hearing of all applications in the matter.
Those who sued the senator in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026 are Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, on behalf of themselves and ward members as plaintiffs. The senator is the sole defendant.
In their ex parte application, Kingibe, representing the FCT in the Senate, was said to have been suspended on March 10, 2026, by her Wuse Ward executives following allegations of anti-party activities and disregard for the constitution of the ADC.
In the ex parte application filed on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kolawole Olowookere, the aggrieved ADC members in Wuse Ward applied for an order of interim injunction restraining Kingibe from parading herself as a member of the party, pending the hearing and determination of their motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
They also asked the judge to restrain the senator from performing any function, attending meetings, or carrying out activities reserved for ADC members or representing the party in any capacity.
Besides, the Ward Executive Committee had asked that she be restrained from further interfering with the administration of the ward, ward register, and other activities.
The suit was predicated on five grounds, among which are that Mrs Kingibe was placed on suspension due to anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and confiscation of the ward’s statutory records.
They argued that the suspension followed due process as enshrined in the ADC constitution and ratified by a two-thirds majority of the EXCO members.
They averred that despite the communication of the suspension to Kingibe, she has continued to hold parallel meetings, issue press statements as an ADC member, and use her security details to intimidate the executive committee.
“Her actions constitute flagrant disregard for the internal mechanism of the party,” the plaintiffs stated.
Meanwhile, a lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, who claimed to be representing the senator, announced that he had filed a preliminary objection against the suit. He added that it was served on M. S. Garba, who stood for the plaintiffs at Thursday’s proceedings.
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