The Federal High Court in Abuja has turned down a request seeking to stop Senator Ireti Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
We gathered that in a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu refused to grant the interim injunction sought by the plaintiffs. Instead, he directed them to notify Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, to appear before the court and explain why the reliefs requested against her should not be approved.
The judge subsequently fixed May 20 for the hearing of all pending applications, including a preliminary objection filed by the senator’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar.
The suit was instituted by two executive members of the ADC in Wuse Ward, Abuja, Mr Okezuo Kanayo, the ward chairman, and Mr Isaiah Sameul, the secretary, through their lawyer, Kolawole Olowookere, SAN.
In their ex-parte motion dated March 17, the plaintiffs asked the court to grant three key reliefs, including an interim order restraining Kingibe from identifying as an ADC member pending the determination of their motion for interlocutory injunction.
They also urged the court to stop her from carrying out party-related functions, attending meetings, or participating in activities reserved for ADC members, as well as interfering in the affairs and records of the Wuse Ward Executive Committee, until the case is resolved.
Backing their application, the plaintiffs’ counsel argued that although Kingibe is a serving senator, she remains subject to the party’s constitution. He maintained that her suspension on March 10 by the ward executive followed allegations of anti-party conduct, misconduct, and the alleged seizure of official ward documents.
According to him, the disciplinary action complied with the ADC constitution and received the backing of a two-thirds majority of the ward’s executive.
He further alleged that despite being notified of the suspension, the senator continued to organise parallel meetings, issue statements as an ADC member, and deploy security aides in a manner that unsettled the ward leadership.
“There is a real and imminent danger that the plaintiffs/applicants’ right to maintain party discipline and the status quo will be overreached and rendered nugatory unless this court intervenes.
“The defendant/respondent’s actions constitute a flagrant disregard for the internal dispute resolution and disciplinary mechanisms of the party,” he said.
Olowookere argued that it would be just and convenient for the court to intervene to preserve the res and the status quo ante bellum.
However, in a preliminary objection filed by her lawyer, Abubakar, Kingibe challenged the competence of the suit, asking the court to dismiss it for lack of jurisdiction.
She also sought “an order striking out this suit for want of Jurisdiction,” and requested that the plaintiffs or their counsel be directed to pay N10 million as costs, citing provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Delivering his decision, Justice Lifu held that after reviewing the ex-parte motion, the court would not grant the interim reliefs sought and instead opted to hear from all parties before taking further steps.
