****Accuse state chairman of hobnobbing with APC to destabilise the party
The leadership crisis rocking the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Saturday as party stakeholders announced the suspension of four party officials, including the FCT chairman, Clement Obah Ehigiator.
Others suspended are the Wuse Ward Chairman, Mr. Kanayo Okezie; the Secretary of Wuse Ward, Omale Sule, accused of impersonating the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairman; and a ward leader, Barrister Amanda Pam, a stakeholder from Kabusa.
The development followed an earlier controversy triggered by the purported suspension of the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, by the Wuse Ward chapter of the party over alleged anti-party activities.
The ward chairman, Kanayo Chukwu, had earlier announced that Kingibe was suspended indefinitely after a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on March 10, 2026. According to him, the decision followed deliberations by ward members over allegations of anti-party conduct and violation of party rules.
Earlier the national leadership of the Party swiftly dismissed the suspension claim.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the report of the senator’s suspension as false and misleading, insisting that the party was unaware of any decision to suspend the senator.
The latest disciplinary action was announced during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held Saturday morning at the ADC secretariat in Gudu, Abuja, where party leaders said the move was necessary to restore order and discipline within the party.
Speaking at the gathering, Ambassador Destiny Emmanuel said the meeting was convened to address acts of insubordination and misconduct within the FCT chapter.
“We are here to put an end to the shenanigans, the insubordination to leadership, and the criminal activities by people parading themselves with disrespect to leadership and the national leadership in the FCT,” he said.
Emmanuel said the meeting was attended by a broad cross-section of the party structure across the territory.
“We have over 50 ward chairmen out of 62 in the FCT here. We also have the congress-recognised AMAC chairman, members of the NEC wing of the party, the six Area Council party chairmen, the ALGON chairman, and other stakeholders,” he added.
He also dismissed the purported suspension of Senator Kingibe, describing it as illegal and contrary to party procedures.
“You cannot just wake up and say you are suspending a serving senator without any petition or complaint in writing. Political parties are guided by principles and constitution,” he said.
Another party stakeholder and Deputy National Auditor of the party, Princess Nneka Nnebo, supported the action taken by the leadership.
“It is of no use keeping quiet. We have allowed them to follow the right channel, but Clement is not ready to work with that. Instead, he is creating disunity among party members in the state,” she said.
Also speaking, the State Secretary of the FCT chapter, Ambassador Hyginus John, accused the suspended chairman of administrative incompetence and violating the party’s constitution.
“That is why the state structure of the party, consisting of ward and area council chairmen and the state council, has passed a vote of no confidence,” he said.
A stakeholder from Abaji Area Council, Umar Zuru, also faulted the allegations used to justify the senator’s suspension.
“You are accusing somebody based on hearsay. They said ‘we heard she was given ₦100 million.’ Who gave the money? Who was there?” he queried.
Similarly, the Abaji Area Council chairman and FCT ALGON chairman, Umaru Mundi, said the six area council chairmen backed the suspension of the state chairman.
“The suspension took place in the state secretariat, not in a beer palace,” he said.
Amid the dispute over leadership in Abuja Municipal Area Council, the congress-recognised chairman, Emeka Nnamane, warned against impersonation.
“Anybody parading himself as the AMAC chairman of ADC is impersonating and will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
During a question-and-answer session, some stakeholders also alleged external political interference, claiming the crisis may have been influenced by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It is very obvious that the state chairman has been bribed by APC people to disturb ADC, knowing very well that ADC has come to stay,” one of the speakers alleged.
The crisis has thrown the FCT chapter of the party into deeper uncertainty as stakeholders struggle to restore unity within the ranks.