The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, on Friday dismissed a suit that sought to prevent Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in the activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The court described the case as frivolous and lacking in merit, affirming that disciplinary and suspension matters within a political party are internal affairs and thus not subject to judicial intervention.

The suit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was filed by Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, acting on behalf of themselves and other ward members. Senator Kingibe was named as the sole defendant. The plaintiffs alleged that the FCT senator had been suspended by the Wuse Ward Executive on March 10 due to purported anti-party activities and a violation of the ADC constitution. They claimed this decision was subsequently ratified by a two-thirds majority of ward leaders.

Through their legal counsel, Kolawole Olowookere (SAN), the plaintiffs sought an interlocutory injunction. This injunction aimed to restrain Senator Kingibe from presenting herself as an ADC member, attending party meetings, or performing any official party functions until the full determination of the suit. Additionally, they requested the court to bar her from interfering with ward administration, including access to party registers and internal records.

However, in delivering his judgment, Justice Lifu unequivocally stated that the issues presented fell strictly within the purview of the political party's internal affairs and were therefore not justiciable by the court. He emphasized, “The issue of discipline and suspension upon which this suit is predicated is an internal affair of the ADC that does not need the intervention of any court.”

Justice Lifu further questioned the fundamental basis of the suit, pointing out inconsistencies in the plaintiffs’ approach. He suggested that if there were genuine grievances, those who initially imposed the suspension should have been the ones seeking judicial validation, rather than the current plaintiffs. Consequently, the judge dismissed the case as frivolous, baseless, and unfounded. He imposed a total fine of N20 million against the plaintiffs, ordering them to pay N10 million to Senator Kingibe, and directed their counsel to personally pay an additional N10 million to the senator.