FCT minister can’t make me win or lose 2027 Senate seat — Kingibe

Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has dismissed suggestions that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, could determine her political fate ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that no individual has the power to impose candidates on voters in the capital.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kingibe said the structure and political culture of the FCT make it impossible for any minister to decide who wins or loses elections, stressing that electoral outcomes in the territory are ultimately determined by the people.

She said, “The truth of the matter is that from Obasanjo to now, hardly anybody controls how the people of the FCT vote. Minister Wike cannot make me win, neither can he make me lose, just like he cannot impose anybody on the FCT. FCT is not structured that way. So I’m absolutely not threatened by him.”

The senator, who recently defected from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said her decision to move parties was driven by the protracted crisis within the Labour Party and not by fear of political intimidation or calculations linked to the FCT minister.

“A Labour Party is in two factions as you know right now. The Abure faction and the Nenadi faction. If you’re holding a political office or you plan on running, under which faction are you running? As of today, Labour Party did not even field candidates in local council elections. So obviously, it’s not a viable platform for seeking election.”

Kingibe argued that the constitution permits elected officials to seek another platform where their party is factionalised, adding that her case fell squarely within that provision.

“I do firmly believe that those who defect without meeting the constitutional requirement should lose their seats, but in our case, it doesn’t apply. This is exactly what the constitution was talking about,” she said.

Responding to claims that her criticisms of the FCT administration amounted to a personal feud with the minister, Kingibe said her interventions were rooted in her constitutional duty of oversight and concern for residents’ welfare.

“The minister does some good things, but he also does not follow the rule of law,” she said. “Lots of times it is my job to draw his attention. It is my job to oversight certain things. It is not personal. It’s not about whether he’s good or bad. I would prefer for the minister to obey the rule of law a bit more.”

She explained that her widely reported letter commending the minister for road rehabilitation in her area was simply an acknowledgment of a commendable act. “Anytime anybody does anything commendable, I will commend them. That was what that letter was about.”

 she said.

However, the senator lamented what she described as a lack of institutional engagement between the FCT administration and elected representatives.

“It’s going on three years since the minister was appointed. All previous ministers sat with elected members of the FCT monthly to discuss the needs of the people. I have certainly never sat with the minister because there has been no forum for that,” she said.

Kingibe identified waste management, environmental protection, security and healthcare as pressing challenges in the FCT, warning that some had reached critical levels.

“Waste management has gotten to urgent proportions. They’re all over the place and they’re not clearing the waste. Flood channels are being built on, green areas are being encroached upon, and that’s a potential environmental problem waiting to explode.”