Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has reiterated that Ireti Kingibe will not return to the Senate in 2027, insisting that the lawmaker has “no project to show” for her time in office. Speaking during the interactive session with journalists, Wike directly addressed ongoing political tensions and criticisms leveled against his administration in the FCT. He vowed to actively work at the grassroots level to ensure Kingibe's defeat, emphasizing her perceived lack of popularity and impact.
"Mark it today, I will ensure that Senator Ireti Kingibe doesn’t return as a Senator," Wike stated emphatically. "I will go to the grassroots and mobilise against her. She has done nothing and is very unpopular."
The minister's latest remarks build on previous public challenges he has issued to the senator. In earlier statements dating back to 2024 and into 2025, Wike had similarly dared Kingibe to seek re-election, promising that "what happened last time will not happen again" and asserting that political forces aligned with him would "fail" her at the polls.
Wike's comments come amid heightened political activity in the FCT following the recent Area Council elections in early 2026, where the APC—strongly backed by Wike's campaign efforts and visible infrastructure developments—recorded notable gains. Observers have interpreted these results as a shift in the territory's political landscape, potentially weakening opposition figures like Kingibe.
The senator, who originally won her seat in 2023 under the Labour Party banner and has since aligned with other platforms including a reported move to the ADC, has consistently pushed back against Wike's threats. In prior interviews and statements, she has maintained that the minister holds no unilateral control over FCT electoral outcomes and that her focus remains on representing residents' interests rather than engaging in personal rivalries.
Kingibe has previously described attempts to meet with Wike as unsuccessful, recounting incidents where communication escalated into heated exchanges, requiring intervention from Senate leadership. She has accused the minister of an autocratic approach to governance and highlighted unresolved issues in the territory, such as waste management and infrastructure gaps.
Despite the barbs, Wike has also referenced past correspondence from Kingibe, including a thank-you letter where she reportedly praised aspects of his work in the FCT, calling Abuja a "model city." In the media chat, he dismissed her recent criticisms as insincere and unproductive.
The ongoing feud has fueled widespread debate on social media and in political circles about influence, performance, and the future of representation in Nigeria's capital. With the 2027 elections still over a year away, Wike's public vow signals an intensifying battle for control of the FCT senatorial seat.
