Senator Ireti Kingibe may face disqualification from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial primary after failing to appear before the party’s screening panel ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, is seeking reelection on the platform of the ADC following her defection from the Labour Party, under which she won the 2023 senatorial election.
Sources within the party said her absence from the screening exercise could affect her eligibility to secure the ADC ticket.
A party source familiar with the process alleged that the senator was seeking an automatic ticket and therefore did not participate in the screening.
“Without appearing before the screening exercise, how would she be eligible to get the ticket?” the source said.
The development comes amid growing competition among aspirants contesting for the ADC senatorial ticket in the FCT. Some party members have reportedly raised concerns over what they describe as attempts to give preferential treatment to certain candidates.
The issue also follows recent internal disputes involving the senator and some ADC ward leaders in Abuja.
In April, the Federal High Court dismissed an attempt by some ADC leaders in Wuse, Abuja, to prevent Kingibe from participating in party activities.
The ward leaders had accused the senator of anti-party activities, gross misconduct and confiscation of ward statutory records, claiming they had suspended her from the party.
However, the court declined to uphold the suspension, allowing the senator to continue participating in ADC activities pending further developments.
