From Victor Osula, Abuja
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, slammed ward leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and their counsel with a combined N20 million penalty after striking out a suit seeking judicial validation of the suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe, describing the case as frivolous, baseless and unfounded.
Delivering judgement, Justice Peter Lifu held that matters relating to discipline, suspension and membership of a political party remained internal affairs of the party and did not require judicial intervention.
The judge questioned why officials of the same political party that imposed the suspension approached the court to seek validation of their own disciplinary action, noting that it ought to have been the suspended senator challenging the action if she felt aggrieved.
According to the judge, the plaintiffs’ decision to seek judicial endorsement of the suspension suggested a lack of confidence in their own action.
Invoking Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, the court awarded N10 million costs against the plaintiffs in favour of Kingibe. Justice Lifu also imposed an additional N10 million fine on counsel to the plaintiffs for filing what he described as a frivolous suit, with the sum equally payable to the senator.
Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, was allegedly suspended on March 10 by executives of the ADC in Wuse Ward over alleged anti-party activities and disregard for the party’s constitution.
The ward executives claimed that the suspension was ratified by two-thirds of the ward leadership in line with the party’s internal procedures.
The plaintiffs, Mr Okezuo Kanayo and Mr Isaiah Samuel, had instituted the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026 on behalf of themselves and other ward members, with Kingibe listed as the sole defendant.
Through their counsel, Mr Kolawole Olowookere, SAN, the plaintiffs sought an interim injunction restraining the senator from parading herself as a member of the ADC pending the determination of their substantive motion.
They also prayed the court to restrain her from attending party meetings, performing functions reserved for ADC members, or representing the party in any official capacity.
The plaintiffs further asked the court to stop Kingibe from interfering in the administration of the ward, including access to the ward register and other official activities.
According to the plaintiffs, the senator was suspended for alleged anti-party activities, gross misconduct and confiscation of statutory ward records. They argued that due process was followed in imposing the suspension and that it was ratified by a two-thirds majority of ward executives as required by the ADC constitution.
They further alleged that despite being notified of her suspension, Kingibe continued to hold parallel meetings, issue statements as a member of the ADC and allegedly used security personnel to intimidate ward executives.
However, counsel to the senator, Mr Marshall Abubakar, had urged the court at the previous adjourned date to dismiss the matter on grounds that it bordered strictly on the internal affairs of the political party.
Abubakar argued that the plaintiffs failed to follow laid-down party procedures before resorting to litigation, adding that the senator was never invited to answer any allegations levelled against her.
“The defendant was never invited for anything nor was there any complaint against her,” the lawyer told the court.
He further argued that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the suit because they were themselves under suspension by the party.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr I.G. Ogugua, however, maintained that the court could intervene where the constitution of a political party had allegedly been breached, insisting that there was nothing sacrosanct about the doctrine of internal party affairs in such circumstances.
