A Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a lawsuit aimed at preventing Senator Ireti Kingibe from taking part in African Democratic Congress (ADC) events, ruling that the matter concerns internal party affairs. The court also ordered the plaintiffs and their lawyer to pay a total of N20 million in fines.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling on Friday, stating that the issues of party discipline and suspension, which formed the basis of the suit, are internal ADC matters that do not require court intervention. He emphasized that it is the suspended senator, not the party members, who should seek legal redress if she feels aggrieved.
The plaintiffs, Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, sued on behalf of themselves and other ADC members in Wuse Ward. They claimed that Kingibe was suspended on March 10, 2026, by the ward executives for alleged anti-party activities and disregard for the party’s constitution. They sought a court order to restrain her from acting as an ADC member or attending party functions.
In their application for an interim injunction, the plaintiffs argued that Kingibe had continued to hold parallel meetings, issue press statements as an ADC member, and use security details to intimidate ward leaders. They asserted that her suspension followed due process as outlined in the ADC constitution and was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the executive committee.
However, Justice Lifu described the suit as frivolous, baseless, and unfounded. He invoked Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act to impose a N10 million fine on the plaintiffs, payable to Senator Kingibe. Additionally, he fined the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Kolawole Olowookere (SAN), another N10 million for filing a vexatious case.
During the proceedings, the judge questioned why the ward executives rushed to court to seek validation of their own disciplinary action, noting that the proper complainant should be the suspended senator. The court concluded that the plaintiffs were unsure of their position, leading them to improperly seek judicial backing.