Court dismisses lawsuit to halt Ireti Kingibe’s ADC activities, fines plaintiffs N10 million.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from all activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after her alleged suspension by the Wuse Ward executives.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling delivered on Friday, held that the disciplinary matter that underpinned the suit was an internal affair of the ADC and did not warrant judicial intervention.

Senator Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, was reportedly suspended on 10 March 2026 by her Wuse Ward executives on accusations of anti‑party conduct and disregard for the ADC constitution.

The plaintiffs in the case, identified as Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel on behalf of themselves and APC members of the ward, filed suit FHC/ABJ/ CV/539/2026 against the serving senator, who was the sole defendant.

The suit, brought by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kolawole Olowookere and argued before Justice Lifu, sought an interim injunction preventing Kingibe from presenting herself as an ADC member while the court considered their motion for an interlocutory injunction.

The plaintiffs also requested that the court restrain the senator from performing any functions, attending meetings, or engaging in activities reserved for ADC members, and from representing the party in any capacity.

Additionally, the Ward Executive Committee asked that she be barred from further interfering with ward administration, the ward register, and other related activities.

The lawsuit was based on five grounds, including that Mrs Kingibe was suspended for anti‑party activities, gross misconduct, and the confiscation of ward statutory records.

“The suspension followed due process as set out in the ADC constitution and was ratified by a two‑thirds majority of the Exco members,” the plaintiffs asserted. “Despite being notified of the suspension, 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 a flagrant disregard of the party’s internal mechanisms,” they claimed.

In his judgment, Justice Lifu questioned why those who suspended the senator were seeking court validation of their own action. He noted that it is the suspended senator who should appear in court to contest the disciplinary measure, implying that the plaintiffs were uncertain about their own conduct and therefore rushed to the court.

Finding the suit frivolous, baseless, and unfounded, Justice Lifu invoked sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act and imposed a fine of N10 million on the plaintiffs, to be paid to the FCT senator.

The judge also imposed a separate N10 million fine on the lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of the plaintiffs, to be paid to Ireti Kingibe.