The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to restrain Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in activities of the African Democratic Congress following her alleged suspension from the party’s Wuse Ward in the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the ruling on Friday, held that the matter bordered on the internal affairs of a political party and therefore fell outside the jurisdiction of the court.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was filed by Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel on behalf of themselves and other ward members, with Senator Kingibe listed as the sole defendant.
The plaintiffs had asked the court for an interim injunction restraining the senator from presenting herself as a member of the ADC, attending party meetings, or performing any functions associated with the party pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought to stop her from interfering in ward administration and access to party records, alleging that she had been suspended on March 10 by the Wuse Ward Executive over accusations of anti-party activities and misconduct.
According to the plaintiffs, the suspension was ratified by a two-thirds majority of ward leaders and followed alleged violations of the ADC constitution.
They further claimed that despite being notified of her suspension, the senator continued to hold parallel meetings and issue statements as a party member, while allegedly using security details to intimidate ward executives.
However, Justice Lifu ruled that issues of discipline and suspension within a political party are internal matters that do not warrant judicial intervention.
“The issue of discipline and suspension upon which this suit is predicated is an internal affair of the ADC that does not need the intervention of any court,” the judge held.
He further questioned the propriety of the plaintiffs seeking court validation of their own disciplinary action, stating that it was the suspended member—not the ward executives—who ought to have approached the court if aggrieved.
Justice Lifu described the suit as frivolous, baseless, and unfounded, and imposed a total fine of N20 million.
The court ordered that N10 million be paid by the plaintiffs and another N10 million by their counsel to Senator Kingibe.
