What began as an attempt to discipline dissent within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dramatically backfired, leaving those who initiated the controversy now facing disciplinary action themselves.

In a dramatic twist on Saturday, party stakeholders announced the suspension of four officials, including the FCT chairman, Clement Obah Ehigiator, in a move that has deepened the leadership crisis rocking the party in Abuja.

Also suspended are the Wuse Ward Chairman, Kanayo Okezie; the Secretary of Wuse Ward, Omale Sule, who is accused of impersonating the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairman; and a ward leader, Barrister Amanda Pam, a stakeholder from Kabusa.

The suspensions followed days of turmoil sparked by the controversial announcement by the Wuse Ward leadership claiming that the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, had been indefinitely suspended over alleged anti-party activities.

The decision, reportedly taken during a ward stakeholders’ meeting held on March 10, immediately generated controversy and triggered strong reactions within the party.

However, the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress quickly distanced itself from the action. In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the purported suspension as false and misleading, insisting that the party was unaware of any such decision.

Determined to regain control of the situation, party leaders convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on Saturday morning at the ADC secretariat in Gudu, Abuja, where they announced the suspension of the officials they accused of fueling the crisis.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Destiny Emmanuel said the gathering 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.

According to him, the meeting drew a large turnout from across the party’s structure, including more than 50 ward chairmen out of the 62 in the territory, six area council chairmen, and members of the party’s National Executive Committee wing.

Emmanuel also dismissed the purported suspension of Senator Kingibe as unconstitutional.

“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 stakeholder and the party’s Deputy National Auditor, Princess Nneka Nnebo, accused the suspended chairman of creating divisions within the party.

“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.

The FCT State Secretary, Ambassador Hyginus John, also backed the disciplinary move, accusing the chairman of administrative incompetence and violation of 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.

Stakeholders also challenged the allegations used to justify the senator’s suspension.

A party leader from Abaji Area Council, Umar Zuru, dismissed the claims as baseless.

“You are accusing somebody based on hearsay. They said ‘we heard she was given ₦100 million.’ Who gave the money? Who was there?” he asked.

The Abaji Area Council chairman and FCT ALGON chairman, Umaru Mundi, said the six area council chairmen supported the suspension of the state chairman.

“The suspension took place in the state secretariat, not in a beer palace,” he said.

Meanwhile, the congress-recognised AMAC chairman of the party, Emeka Nnamane, warned against impersonation within the party’s ranks.

“Anybody parading himself as the AMAC chairman of ADC is impersonating and will face the full wrath of the law,” he warned.

Adding another layer to the controversy, some stakeholders alleged that external political forces may be fueling the internal crisis.

One speaker at the meeting claimed the suspended chairman had been compromised by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in a bid to weaken the ADC’s growing influence in the FCT.

“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,” the stakeholder alleged.

With accusations, counter-accusations, and suspensions now flying across party ranks, the crisis has plunged the FCT chapter of the ADC into deeper uncertainty, leaving party leaders scrambling to restore unity and credibility within the fold.