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Sen. Kingibe Cleared as Court Dismisses Suspension Lawsuit

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to affirm the alleged indefinite suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was filed by Messrs Okezuo Kanayo and Isaiah Samuel on behalf of themselves and other ward members.

Persecondnews recalls that The plaintiffs, through their counsel Mr. Kolawole Olowookere (SAN) had approached the court over a dispute arising from the party’s internal disciplinary action.

Delivering his judgment on Friday,

Justice Peter Lifu held that courts will not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties, including matters relating to discipline and suspension.

“Discipline and suspension within a political party are internal affairs of the party and not matters for judicial determination,” he said.

The judge questioned the logic of party officials who imposed the suspension seeking judicial validation of their own action, noting that the proper course would have been for the affected senator to challenge the decision if aggrieved.

He held that the plaintiffs’ action amounted to an attempt to secure judicial endorsement of an internal party decision, describing the suit as frivolous, baseless and an abuse of court process.

Justice Lifu further held that the filing reflected a lack of confidence in the action taken by the party officials themselves.

The court awarded N10 million in costs in favour of Sen. Kingibe against the plaintiffs.

It also imposed an additional N10 million cost on the plaintiffs’ counsel for filing what it described as a frivolous suit, with both sums payable to the senator.

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Court documents showed that the plaintiffs had sought an interim injunction restraining Senator Kingibe from parading herself as a member of the ADC, attending party meetings, or performing any functions within the party pending determination of the suit.

The Wuse Ward executives had earlier announced her suspension on March 10 over alleged anti-party activities and breach of the party constitution, claiming the decision was backed by a two-thirds majority of the ward leadership.

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