The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday declared the purported suspension of the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, as illegal.
Bellnews reports that the party also sanctioned three executive members of the Wuse Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council over their role in the controversial action.
Those sanctioned include the ward chairman, Kanayo Chukwu, alongside Mrs Amanda Pam and Omale Suleiman.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, a member of the party’s National Working Committee, Emmanuel Destiny, said the purported suspension lacked legitimacy because the required procedures were not followed.
He stressed that the national leadership had not received any formal complaint or petition against the senator.
“The party is supreme to every individual. Until now, the national wing of the party has not been served a letter of complaint or petition against Senator Kingibe. You can’t just wake up and suspend a serving senator without putting your complaints or your petition in writing,” Destiny said.
He added that the national leadership would not tolerate what he described as misconduct by the ward officials.
“We are fully present to say ‘No’ to such shenanigans and the misbehaviour of the Wuse ward chairman, an acclaimed Wuse ward chairman that the party does not recognise.
“Whatever gangsterism they’ve been parading themselves with in the last 72 hours, the national wing of the party is going to pass full disciplinary action on them,” he stated.
Also speaking, the party’s Deputy National Auditor, Nneka Nneboh, said the leadership could no longer remain silent after giving those involved the opportunity to follow due process.
“It is of no use keeping quiet because we have asked them to do the right thing and follow the right channel.
“Whatever decision we take here today stands, and as a national officer, I want to say that it is time to call a spade a spade. Enough is enough,” she said.
The FCT Secretary of the party, John Hyginus, also criticised what he described as administrative lapses and a breach of the party’s constitution.
“We are here to address the administrative incompetence of the state chairman and to bridge the gross breach of the party’s constitution, as well as a series of anti-party activities he has committed,” he said.
Hyginus disclosed that ward and area council leaders had passed a vote of no confidence on the three officials who initiated the suspension.
“Today, the state party consists of all the ward area council chairmen, who are constitutionally entitled to take the decision here today, have passed a vote of no confidence on the three initiators of Senator Kingibe’s suspension.
“We are also here to make it known to the whole world that FCT ADC is at peace. We are law-abiding people who respect the constitution,” he added.
Bellnews reports that the controversy began earlier in the week when officials of the ADC in Wuse Ward announced the suspension of Kingibe over alleged anti-party activities, insubordination and violation of party rules.
The ward executives also accused the senator of withholding funds meant for the party’s campaigns during the recent area council elections in the FCT.
In a letter reportedly addressed to members of the party’s National Working Committee, the ward publicity secretary, Samuel Nwigbo, questioned the senator’s commitment to the party.
“How would a serious party attempt to go into a major election with a candidate who refused to openly campaign for her party in a serious election held within her constituency?” the letter queried.
However, the national leadership of the ADC quickly distanced itself from the suspension.
In an earlier statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, urged the public and the media to treat the report as false and misleading.
Sunday’s stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s FCT secretariat, which had in attendance several party leaders, further escalated the dispute, as leaders insisted that the ward officials acted outside the party’s constitution and due process.