The African Democratic ADC sues to stop Senator Ireti Kingibe from claiming party membership after suspension

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to restrain Senator Ireti Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the party following her indefinite suspension.

 

The legal action comes 48 hours after the Wuse Ward Executive Committee announced the senator’s suspension.

 

In the suit filed by the party’s counsel, Maxwell Opara, the ADC is asking the court to declare that the Wuse Ward Executive Committee has the constitutional authority to discipline and suspend party members within its jurisdiction.

 

The party is also seeking a declaration affirming that Kingibe’s suspension remains valid and binding.

 

The case was instituted by Okezuo Godfrey Kanayo, Chairman of the ADC in Wuse Ward, and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, the ward secretary, on behalf of the ward executive committee.

 

They urged the court to rule that while the suspension remains in force, Kingibe cannot lawfully claim membership or present herself as a card-carrying member of the ADC.

 

The plaintiffs further requested an order restraining the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) from recognising Kingibe as a member of the party at any level during the period of her suspension.

 

They are also seeking judicial validation of the ward executive committee’s decision to suspend the senator.

 

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/539/2026, is based on Sections 6(6)(b) and 251 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Article 16 of the ADC Constitution, and the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.

 

The plaintiffs also invoked the court’s inherent powers to interpret and enforce the provisions of party constitutions.