The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from taking part in activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or presenting herself as a member of the party.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Friday, ruling that the matter was an internal party dispute and therefore outside the court’s jurisdiction. The court also imposed a cost of N20 million against the plaintiffs.
The suit, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was brought by two ADC members, Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the party’s Ward Executive Committee in Wuse, FCT.
The plaintiffs alleged that Senator Kingibe was suspended on March 10 over accusations including insubordination and anti-party activities, and argued that the suspension had been ratified by a two-thirds majority of the ward executive.
They asked the court to uphold the suspension and restrain her from holding herself out as a party member during the period of disciplinary action. They also sought a declaration that the party’s national leadership should not recognise her membership while the suspension remained in place.
However, the court held that it could not intervene in the internal affairs of the party and consequently struck out the case.
