The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suspended three ward executives in Wuse Ward of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) over their alleged involvement in the controversial suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe.
Kingibe currently represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate.
The suspended officials include Wuse Ward Chairman Kanayo Chukwu, Amanda Pam, and Omale Suleiman.
Speaking to journalists and party members in Abuja, a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Emmanuel Destiny, said the earlier decision to suspend the senator violated the party’s constitution and failed to follow due process.
According to him, the action lacked legitimacy because the appropriate procedures were not followed before announcing such a decision.
“The party is supreme over every individual. As of now, the national leadership has not received any formal complaint or petition against Senator Kingibe,” he said.
“You cannot simply wake up and suspend a serving senator without submitting your grievances or petition in writing.”
Destiny added that the national leadership would not tolerate what he described as misconduct by the ward officials.
“We are here to firmly say no to such actions by a self-acclaimed Wuse Ward chairman who is not recognised by the party. Whatever form of misconduct they have displayed in the last 72 hours, the national leadership will take disciplinary action against them,” he said.
Also reacting to the development, the party’s Deputy National Auditor, Princess Nneka Nneboh, said the leadership could no longer remain silent after giving those involved the opportunity to follow proper procedures.
“It is no longer useful to remain silent because we had asked them to do the right thing and follow the proper channel. Whatever decision we take here today stands,” she said.
The FCT Secretary of the party, John Hyginus, also criticised what he described as administrative lapses and disregard for the party’s constitution.
He said ward and area council chairmen had passed a vote of no confidence in the three individuals responsible for initiating the senator’s suspension.
The controversy began earlier in the week when officials of the party’s Wuse Ward announced the suspension of Kingibe over alleged anti-party activities, insubordination and breach of party rules.
She was also accused of withholding funds meant for the party’s campaigns during the recent area council elections in the FCT.
However, the national leadership of the party distanced itself from the suspension, urging the public to disregard the announcement and describing it as misleading.
