We’ll unseat you as FCT senator in 2027, Wike tells Ireti Kingibe

Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the nation’s capital, will not be reelected in 2027.

Wike spoke in Abuja on Monday at the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the Mabushi bus terminal.

“If we have done well, we have done well. If we haven’t done well, we haven’t done well. I am proud to say that in the short time that President Tinubu has appointed us, we have done well,” Wike said.

“You said there are no schools and hospitals. You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sectors?

“I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027, come and run under Abuja; we will fail you.

“You think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again. If you are popular, come and run. Luckily for me, I am the FCT minister now. So, here is my territory, and I am not afraid.

“People should be able to accept the truth. We are not begging for anybody to be our friend. We have so many friends that we cannot even carry them along. So, how can we go and beg people to be our friends? We are not interested in that.”

Kingibe, a member of the Labour Party (LP), defeated Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election.

Aduda, an ally of Wike, was a senator from 2011 to 2023.

Kingibe and Wike have not had a good working relationship since they assumed their respective offices.

The lawmaker has repeatedly accused Wike of sidelining her, despite being the senator representing the FCT.

Both politicians have recurrently lashed out at each other on various occasions.

Wike said Kingibe’s anger stemmed from his constant companionship with Aduda and because she was not appointed as the senate chairperson of the committee on FCT.

In September 2023, Kingibe said Wike did not have the executive powers to make threats of demolition of “illegal buildings” in the territory.

In January, the lawmaker claimed that Wike had refused to respond to her letters and messages amid rising insecurity in Abuja.

The senator also claimed that Wike did not have the interest of the FCT at heart, claiming that residents were battling water scarcity amid other challenges.