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The Federal Capital Territory branch of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suspended three executives from Wuse District in the Abuja City Area Council over their involvement in the dispute over the suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe.
Kingibe represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Nigerian Senate.
Those sanctioned include the district chairman, Kanayo Chukwu, along with Amanda Pam and Omale Suleiman, who are accused of spearheading the move that announced the senator’s suspension earlier this week.
Speaking to journalists and party members in Abuja on Sunday, member of the party’s National Working Committee, Emmanuel Destiny, said the action taken by the ward officials was against the party constitution and established procedures.
Destiny maintains that the decision lacks legitimacy because due process was ignored.
“The party is supreme for every individual. To date, the national wing of the party has not received any letter of complaint or petition against Senator Kingibe.
“You can’t get up and suspend a sitting senator without putting your complaint or petition in writing,” he said.
He added that the party’s national leadership would not tolerate what it considered abuses by regional officials.
“We are fully present to say ‘No’ to such crimes and the bad behavior of a self-acclaimed Wuse ward chairman who is not recognized by the party.
“Whatever gangsterism they exhibited in the last 72 hours, the party’s national wing will take full disciplinary action against them,” he said.
Also commenting on the dispute, the party’s Deputy National Auditor, Princess Nneka Nneboh, said the leadership had given enough time for those involved to follow the correct procedures but was forced to intervene.
“There is no point in remaining silent because we ask them to do the right thing and follow the right path.
“Whatever decision we take today remains valid, and as a national official, I want to say this is the time to make a decision. Enough is enough,” he said.
The party’s FCT secretary, John Hyginus, also criticized what he described as the party’s constitutional violations and administrative irregularities.
“We are here to address the state chairman’s administrative incompetence and gross violations of the party constitution, as well as several anti-party activities he carried out.
“Today, the district and area council chairmen have issued a motion of no confidence against the three initiators of the suspension of Senator Kingibe,” he said.
The meeting, held at the party’s FCT secretariat in Abuja, was attended by several key figures of the party, including FCT Chairman, Clement Ihigiato; Secretary John Hyginus; AMAC Chairman, Emeka Nnamani; as well as party members Danlami Zuru and Jemila Ahmadu.
The controversy began earlier this week when officials from the Wuse party circle announced that Senator Kingibe had been suspended over allegations of anti-party activities, insubordination and violation of party rules.
He was also accused of withholding funds allegedly intended for the party’s campaign activities during the recent regional council elections in the FCT.
However, the party’s national leadership quickly distanced itself from the decision.
In an earlier statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the public and media to ignore the report, describing it as false and misleading.
During the meeting in Abuja, a motion to dismiss the three ward executives was moved by ADC chief Danlami Zuru and supported by ward exco member Samuel Dimgba.
Meanwhile, in an open letter reportedly addressed to members of the party’s National Working Committee, the regional publicity secretary, Samuel Nwigbo, questioned the party’s readiness to hold a major election.
In the letter, he raised concerns about how “a serious party” would fare in a major election if a candidate refused to campaign openly for his party in elections held in his constituency.
