Court strikes out ADC ward suit against Kingibe, orders N20m costs against parties

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday struck out a suit seeking to validate the indefinite suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the action as frivolous and lacking merit.

Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu held that matters relating to discipline and suspension of members of a political party are internal affairs of the party and, as such, not justiciable.

The court queried why party officials who imposed the suspension approached the court to affirm their own action, noting that it was ordinarily the suspended member who should have sought judicial redress if aggrieved.

According to the judge, the plaintiffs’ decision to seek judicial endorsement of the suspension reflected a lack of confidence in their own decision and amounted to an abuse of court process.

Justice Lifu consequently struck out the suit and awarded punitive costs of N10 million against the plaintiffs in favour of Kingibe.

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The court also imposed an additional N10 million cost against the plaintiffs’ counsel, describing the filing as frivolous, with both sums payable to the senator.

The plaintiffs, Okezuo Kanayo and Isaiah Samuel, had approached the court in suit number FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, seeking an interim injunction restraining Kingibe from parading herself as a member of the ADC, participating in party activities, or accessing ward records pending determination of the substantive suit.

They also sought orders restraining her from attending party meetings or representing the party in any capacity, arguing that she had been suspended over alleged anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and breach of the ADC constitution.

They maintained that the suspension was duly ratified by a two-thirds majority of ward executives.

In addition, the plaintiffs alleged that despite notification of her suspension, the senator continued to hold parallel meetings, issue statements as an ADC member, and allegedly used security operatives to intimidate ward officials.

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At the last hearing, Marshall Abubakar, counsel to Kingibe, argued that the suit was incompetent, insisting it concerned internal party affairs and should be dismissed with punitive costs.

He also contended that the party’s disciplinary procedures were not followed and that Kingibe was not given any opportunity to respond to allegations.

He further argued that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi, claiming they were themselves suspended, and urged the court to dismiss the case with a N25 million cost award.

I.G.Ogugua, Counsel to the plaintiffs,however, urged the court to discountenance the defence, arguing that internal party affairs are not sacrosanct where there is an alleged breach of constitutional provisions.