Senator Ireti Kingibe has pushed back strongly against claims that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, poses any threat to her political future, insisting that power in Abuja politics lies with voters, not political heavyweights.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, January 7, the FCT lawmaker dismissed suggestions that Wike could influence her chances in the 2027 general elections.
“Absolutely no,” Kingibe said when asked if she felt politically threatened by the minister.
She argued that the FCT has a long history of resisting political control, stressing that no individual, past or present, determines electoral outcomes in the territory.
“The truth of the matter is that from (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo to now, hardly anybody controls how the people of the FCT vote.
“Minister Awike cannot make me win, nor can he make me lose, just like he cannot impose anybody on the FCT.
“The FCT is not structured that way. So I’m absolutely not threatened by him,” she added.
Kingibe also addressed her defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress, saying the move was driven by political survival and strategy rather than any rivalry with Wike.
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“I moved to the ADC because that’s where all of us who are intending to run, seeking re-election in 2027, from the Labour Party decided to move to, even those who are looking for area council elections.
“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. That’s what it is all about.
“It’s not about Minister Wike. Let’s see what happens in the local government elections before he talks about 2027.
“And I do believe that come 2027, 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,” the senator stated.
Beyond politics, Kingibe turned her attention to governance, criticising conditions in public hospitals across the FCT and calling for greater respect for the rule of law.
She said healthcare facilities were poorly equipped, leaving residents without basic medical support.
“But then also, I have issues with health: the hospitals are empty. There’s nothing. I can go with you to several hospitals in the FCT.
“You’ll see that more than Panadol, you cannot get. All these are issues that affect the well-being of the citizens,” the senator said.