The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that Senator Ireti Kingibe will not return to the National Assembly in 2027, insisting that she lacks the project record needed to secure re-election.
Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, was elected in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party but has since defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Her political relationship with Wike has remained strained, particularly over governance and development issues within the FCT.
The senator recently accused the minister of failing to cooperate in efforts to deliver projects for residents of the territory. She claimed that despite formally reaching out to him to foster collaboration on infrastructure and service improvements, her overtures had not yielded a positive response.
However, speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike stood firmly by his earlier prediction that Kingibe would lose her seat in the next general election.
“I said it more than one year ago — Senator Ireti, you won’t come back as senator. That’s why people don’t like the truth; it’s bitter. Let her show one project,” he said, challenging the lawmaker to point to tangible achievements.
Addressing criticism surrounding his presence at polling units during the February 21 FCT area council elections, Wike defended his actions, maintaining that his movements were strictly in his capacity as the territory’s Chief Security Officer.
“I have the right. I am responsible for security across over 3,000 polling units in the FCT. I needed to know what was going on. I am not a candidate,” the minister stated.
He dismissed suggestions that his visits could have influenced the outcome of the polls, arguing that inspecting a handful of polling stations could not have swayed results across thousands of units.
“As a candidate, you cannot move around; you deploy agents. But as Chief Security Officer, I have the right to observe and ensure order. How does that influence the election?” he asked.
Wike further attributed the opposition’s performance in the elections to what he described as poor preparation, asserting that the results in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) reflected public confidence in the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The exchange underscores the deepening political rivalry within the FCT as attention gradually shifts toward the 2027 elections.
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