Ireti Kingibe Fires Back: No One Can Dictate FCT Residents’ Choice In 2027

Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has rejected FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s assertion about her political future, insisting that the decision on who represents the territory in the Senate after the 2027 election belongs to voters.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Kingibe made the position known in a statement posted on X on Thursday while responding to Wike’s recent comments about the forthcoming FCT senatorial election. Wike had said Kingibe would not return to the Senate in 2027 and expressed support for former FCT Senator Philip Aduda.

Kingibe said no individual had the authority to determine the outcome of an election by personal declaration, stressing that FCT residents would ultimately make the decision through their votes.

The latest exchange followed an earlier disagreement between the senator and the FCT minister over borrowing by the territory’s administration. Kingibe had questioned the process through which loans obtained by the FCT were approved and said she had raised concerns about the matter with the Senate leadership.

Wike, however, rejected her position and maintained that government loans are incorporated into budgets and subjected to legislative approval.

In response, Kingibe challenged the minister to produce the Senate’s official Votes and Proceedings showing when the chamber approved the loans in question. She maintained that, to her knowledge, the matter had not been brought before the Senate, while noting that she could not speak for the House of Representatives.

Kingibe also defended her decision to question government borrowing, public funds and other activities of the administration, saying such scrutiny forms part of her responsibility as an elected legislator.

She further rejected what she described as attempts to intimidate or silence women in public office, maintaining that female lawmakers should be able to raise difficult questions without being discouraged from carrying out their responsibilities.

The senator said she would remain focused on issues affecting residents of the FCT and would continue to scrutinise matters within her legislative responsibilities despite the ongoing disagreement with the minister.