‘Senator Ireti Kingibe Won’t Return to FCT Senate in 2027 – I Stand By My Word’ – Wike

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a bold reaffirmation of his earlier stance, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that Senator Ireti Kingibe, the Labour Party representative for the FCT in the National Assembly, will not secure re-election in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a media chat on TVC News on Monday, Wike stood firmly by his long-held prediction, stating: “I said it more than a year ago: Senator Ireti Kingibe won’t come back as senator of the FCT, and I still stand by it.”

The minister’s comments come amid escalating political tensions between him and the senator, who has been a vocal critic of certain FCT administration policies.

Wike has previously challenged Kingibe to seek re-election if she believes in her popularity among FCT residents, vowing to mobilize grassroots support to ensure her defeat.

This latest statement appears linked to recent political developments, including the outcomes of FCT area council elections, which some observers say highlight shifting dynamics in the territory.

Wike suggested that Kingibe’s 2023 victory—attributed by critics to the “Obi-effect” from the Labour Party’s presidential campaign—may not repeat itself without similar external factors.

The feud between the two prominent figures has been public and intense. Kingibe, elected under the Labour Party platform, has accused Wike of failing to engage with her office, claiming she has written to him multiple times without response.

In past interviews, she has dismissed Wike’s influence over her political future, asserting that FCT residents—not the minister—will decide her fate at the polls.

As the countdown to the next elections begins, all eyes remain on the FCT, where ministerial authority and senatorial representation continue to clash.

Senator Kingibe has yet to formally announce her intention to run again, though she has previously expressed confidence in her re-election prospects despite opposition from Wike. The minister, meanwhile, appears undeterred in his campaign rhetoric.

This developing story highlights the deepening rift within Abuja’s political landscape and could shape alliances and voter sentiments in the nation’s capital as 2027 approaches.