Ward executives of the African Democratic Congress in the Federal Capital Territory have taken legal action at the Federal High Court to stop Senator Ireti Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the party.
The legal action follows the senator’s suspension by the Wuse Ward Executive Committee of the party. According to party officials, the suspension was announced on Thursday, March 12, and was described as indefinite.
The ward executives are now asking the court to confirm the legality of their action and prevent the senator from continuing to identify herself as a member of the party while the suspension remains in place.
The lawsuit was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the party’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara.
In the court papers, the Wuse Ward Executive Committee of the ADC asked the court to declare that it has the authority under the party’s constitution to discipline and suspend members within its jurisdiction.
The ward executives also asked the court to affirm that the suspension of Senator Kingibe remains valid.
By seeking a court order, the party officials hope to stop the senator from presenting herself as a member of the ADC until the dispute is resolved.
The crisis within the party began when the Wuse Ward Executive Committee announced that it had suspended Kingibe indefinitely.
Although details of the reasons behind the suspension were not fully disclosed in the initial announcement, party officials said the action was taken in line with internal party rules.
Ward executives are local party leaders responsible for managing party activities at the grassroots level. They also play a role in handling disciplinary matters involving members within their wards.
However, suspensions of high-profile politicians often lead to disagreements within parties, especially when the affected individual holds a major public office.
In this case, Kingibe is currently serving as the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory in the National Assembly.
Senator Ireti Kingibe is a prominent political figure in Abuja and represents the FCT in the National Assembly of Nigeria.
She won the FCT senatorial election during the 2023 general elections, which were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Her victory was widely seen as significant because it ended the long-standing dominance of major political parties in the FCT senatorial seat.
Kingibe has been involved in Nigerian politics for several years and is known for advocating issues related to governance, development, and women’s participation in politics.
Because of her position as a serving senator, any dispute involving her party membership is likely to attract national attention.
Disagreements often arise over leadership positions, party discipline, candidate selection, and interpretation of party constitutions.
Such disputes sometimes lead to suspensions, expulsions, or court cases as members seek legal interpretation of party rules.
In many cases, courts are asked to determine whether party officials followed due process before taking disciplinary actions against members.
The case involving Kingibe and the ADC ward executives is another example of how party disagreements can move from internal discussions to the courtroom.
The African Democratic Congress is one of Nigeria’s registered political parties. While it is smaller than the country’s major political parties, it has gained attention in recent years through electoral victories in some areas.
The party has positioned itself as an alternative platform for politicians seeking reforms in governance and political leadership.
However, like many political organisations, the party has also experienced internal disagreements among members at different levels.
The Federal High Court will now review the case and decide whether the ward executives have the legal authority to suspend the senator.
If the court rules in favour of the ADC ward executives, it could confirm the suspension and prevent Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the party.
However, if the court rules otherwise, the decision could nullify the suspension and restore her status within the party.
Legal proceedings in such political disputes may take time, as courts often consider party constitutions, internal procedures, and relevant laws before delivering judgments.
The dispute is also attracting attention because the Federal Capital Territory holds a unique political position in Nigeria.
Unlike states, the FCT does not have a governor but is administered directly by the federal government. However, residents still elect representatives to the National Assembly.
As the senator representing the territory, Kingibe plays an important role in presenting the interests of Abuja residents at the national level.
For now, the court is expected to schedule hearings where both parties will present their arguments.
The ADC ward executives will seek to prove that their decision to suspend the senator followed party rules.
On the other hand, Kingibe may challenge the authority of the ward executives or the process used to suspend her.
Until the court delivers a ruling, the dispute remains an internal party crisis that has now moved into the legal arena.
