The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that Ireti Kingibe would not be returning to the senate in 2027 because she has “no project to show.”
Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the upper legislative chamber, was elected senator on the Labour Party (LP) platform in 2023. In 2024, Wike had already vowed that the senator would not be re-elected in 2027.
Earlier, Kingibe claimed Wike had refused to respond to her letters and messages amid rising insecurity in Abuja. She also alleged that he did not have the interest of the FCT at heart, citing water scarcity and other challenges faced by residents.
At a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike tied his prediction of Kingibe not returning as senator to project delivery.
“I had said it more than one year ago, Senator Ireti, you won’t come back as a senator. That’s why you people don’t like people who tell you the truth. It’s bitter. Let her show one project,” he said.
He added that Kingibe has been absent in satellite communities where residents actively vote.
FCT polling unit visits
During the recent FCT area council elections, Wike was criticised by opposition parties for visiting several polling units during the vote. He defended his action, saying that as the territory’s chief security officer, he has the right to check on security and polling activities.
“I’m the governor of FCT, for security, I have to find out what’s going on. I don’t need to be told. I’m not a candidate in the election. As the chief security officer, I have the right to have the view of what was going on,” he said.
“I wasn’t on the ballot and I never said people should vote for the APC. What I said was that the candidates supporting Mr President are the candidates I will support.”
Wike noted that he visited about 10 polling units and rejected claims that his presence influenced the outcome.
“And how does it influence (the election)? When did Nigerians conduct referendum that they are not happy that I as chief security went to 10 polling units to check what was going on?” he asked.
He also dismissed comparisons to past ministers. “What’s my business? You have said the previous ministers you had never bothered about development. So, because they didn’t do development, I should not do development?” he said.