The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe, has said the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, poses no threat to her re-election bid.
Mrs Kingibe stated this on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, insisting that electoral outcomes in the FCT are determined solely by voters and not by political office holders.
Responding to questions on whether Mr Wike’s influence could cost her seat, the lawmaker said: “Absolutely no. Minister Wike cannot make me win, nor can he make me lose, just as he cannot impose anybody on the FCT.”
According to her, the FCT has a long-standing tradition of independent voting patterns that resist political control.
“The truth of the matter is that from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to now, hardly anybody controls how the people of the FCT vote. The FCT is not structured that way. So, I’m absolutely not threatened by him,” she added.
Mrs Kingibe also explained that her recent defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was prompted by the internal crisis within her former party.
“I moved to the ADC because that’s where all of us who are intending to run and seeking re-election in 2027 from the Labour Party decided to move to,” she said.
“So, to run, you have to have a platform, and the ADC is the viable alternative to the Labour Party if you’re in the opposition.”
She dismissed claims that her defection was driven by fear of political interference, stressing that “it’s not about Minister Wike.”
The senator further noted that the outcome of forthcoming local government elections would provide clearer insight into the political dynamics of the FCT, adding that by 2027, the territory may not be the minister’s primary focus.
“Let’s see what happens in the local government elections before he talks about 2027,” she said.
“I don’t think the FCT will be his priority; he’ll have other things to do instead of worrying about who returns in the FCT or not.”
While assessing the minister’s performance, Mrs Kingibe acknowledged persistent challenges in critical sectors, particularly healthcare and waste management.
She criticised the condition of health facilities in the territory, alleging that many hospitals lack basic medical supplies.
“I have issues with health; the hospitals are empty. There’s nothing,” she said.
“More than Panadol, you cannot get. All these are issues that affect the well-being of the citizens.”
