The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the Federal Capital Territory has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop Senator Ireti Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the party following her suspension.
The legal action comes shortly after the Wuse Ward Executive Committee of the party announced the senator’s indefinite suspension about 48 hours earlier.
According to court documents filed by the party’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, the suit is asking the court to affirm that the Wuse Ward Executive Committee has the authority to discipline and suspend members within its jurisdiction.
The plaintiffs in the case are Okezuo Godfrey Kanayo, chairman of the ADC in Wuse Ward, and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, the ward secretary. They filed the suit on behalf of the ward executive committee.
In the court filing, the plaintiffs requested a judicial declaration confirming that the ward committee acted within its constitutional powers when it suspended the senator.
They are also asking the court to rule that, while the suspension remains in effect, Kingibe cannot lawfully claim membership of the ADC or present herself as a card-carrying member of the party.
The suit further seeks an order preventing the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) from recognising Kingibe as a member at any level while the suspension lasts.
Additionally, the plaintiffs want the court to validate the ward executive committee’s decision and confirm that the disciplinary action taken against the senator is still in force.
The case, 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 relied on the court’s inherent powers to interpret and enforce party constitutions in matters relating to internal party disputes.
