Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Senator Ireti Kingibe will not return to the Senate in 2027, while defending the FCT Administration’s borrowing for infrastructure projects.
Wike spoke on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during an inspection of ongoing road projects in the Federal Capital Territory.
His remarks followed Kingibe’s allegation that the FCT Administration obtained loans without the approval of the National Assembly.
Kingibe had cited Debt Management Office records covering August 2023 to March 2026, arguing that the borrowings required legislative approval.
Wike rejected the claim, saying government loans must be captured in the budget and subjected to the prescribed approval process. He said the focus should instead be on whether borrowed funds were being used for projects that benefit FCT residents.
The House of Representatives had earlier weighed in on the dispute. On September 10, its Deputy Spokesman, Philip Agbese, said there was no evidence that Wike breached the law in financing FCT projects, adding that infrastructure borrowing was permissible when due procedures were followed.
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The latest clash is part of a prolonged political disagreement between Wike and Kingibe.
Kingibe won the FCT Senate seat in 2023 on the Labour Party platform, defeating former senator Philip Aduda, whom Wike supports for the position in 2027. She has since joined the African Democratic Congress.
Wike had declared in July 2024 that he would work to defeat Kingibe in 2027 and repeated the position in March 2026.
During Tuesday’s inspection, Wike expressed satisfaction with work on the N1 road and routes linking Tunga Madaki, Zuba and Kagini.
He said the projects would improve connectivity and economic activity in the affected communities while raising residents’ quality of life.
The minister also linked the projects to the 2027 political season, saying residents would judge the administration by its record of infrastructure delivery.