Court Dismisses Attempt To Bar Kingibe From ADC Activities

According to Ireporter Online, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed an ex parte application seeking to prevent Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in the activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The application, filed by leaders of the party in Wuse Ward, Federal Capital Territory, claimed that the senator had been suspended due to alleged anti-party activities. Instead of granting the request, the court ordered that Kingibe be formally served with court documents, allowing her the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

Justice Lifu stressed that such matters, particularly those involving political parties, require careful judicial consideration. He emphasized that fairness necessitates hearing from both parties before any decision is made, noting that justice can only be served when the defendant’s position is fully considered alongside that of the plaintiffs.

The court further directed that Kingibe be provided with all relevant documents to prepare her defence. The matter has been adjourned to April 20, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was instituted by Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel on behalf of themselves and other ward members.

In their ex parte application, filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kolawole Olowookere, the plaintiffs sought an interim injunction restraining Kingibe from acting as an ADC member, attending party meetings, performing functions reserved for party officials, or representing the party in any capacity pending the determination of the suit. They also sought to bar her from interfering in the administration of the ward and accessing ward records.

The plaintiffs claimed that the senator, representing the FCT in the Senate, was suspended on March 10, 2026, by the Wuse Ward Executive Committee, following party procedures ratified by a two-thirds majority of executive members. They alleged that her suspension was due to anti-party activities, misconduct, and interference with statutory ward records.

They further claimed that Kingibe continued to hold parallel meetings, issue statements as a party member, and intimidate ward executives, describing her actions as a flagrant disregard for the party’s internal mechanisms.

Meanwhile, Kingibe’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshall, informed the court that a preliminary objection had been filed against the suit, adding that the application had already been served on the plaintiffs’ counsel, setting the stage for a legal contest at the next hearing.