Wike Criticizes Kingibe's Senate Performance, Predicts She's Unlikely to Return

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has expressed that Senator Ireti Kingibe will not make a return to the Senate in 2027, citing her failure to deliver any significant projects.

Elected in 2023 under the Labour Party (LP), Kingibe serves as the representative for the FCT in the Senate.

Reports from Daily Trust note that Wike previously asserted in 2024 that she would not be re-elected.

In a recent exchange, Kingibe criticized Wike for not responding to her communications regarding the growing insecurity in Abuja.

Furthermore, she accused him of lacking concern for the issues faced by residents of the FCT, including water scarcity among other challenges.

This verbal clash between them is not unprecedented. In 2024, Kingibe remarked that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had made a dire political mistake by appointing Wike as the Minister of the FCT, claiming that his management style has fostered a disregard for institutional protocols and legal standards governing the area.

She stated, "The primary thing is that the minister doesn’t obey the rule of law. He is autocratic. He doesn’t follow any rules or any laws. And when you attempt to emphasize that governance is based on the rule of law, he dismisses it."

However, during a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike reaffirmed his previous claims, asserting that Kingibe's failure to execute projects would lead to her not returning in 2027.

“I had said it more than a year ago that Senator Ireti would not be coming back as a senator. This is why you people tend to dislike those who tell you the truth. It’s bitter. Let her showcase one project,” he declared.

Wike also alleged that Kingibe has not actively engaged with the grassroots in the satellite communities where voters reside.