The political battle between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senator Ireti Kingibe has intensified, with Wike once again declaring that the FCT lawmaker will not retain her Senate seat after the 2027 election. Wike made the latest declaration on Tuesday while inspecting road construction projects across the Federal Capital Territory, where he also defended the […]

The political battle between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Senator Ireti Kingibe has intensified, with Wike once again declaring that the FCT lawmaker will not retain her Senate seat after the 2027 election.

Wike made the latest declaration on Tuesday while inspecting road construction projects across the Federal Capital Territory, where he also defended the borrowing undertaken by the FCT Administration.

The minister was reacting to Kingibe’s recent allegation that the FCT had taken loans without obtaining the necessary approval from the National Assembly.

Kingibe had raised questions over the borrowing process, saying she had not seen Wike appear before the Senate to seek approval for the loans she was referring to. Her claims were based, according to her, on information from the Debt Management Office.

Wike dismissed the allegation and maintained that the FCT Administration had followed due process, arguing that loan provisions are reflected in the relevant budget and subject to legislative approval.

He also launched a personal attack on Kingibe, describing her as “an illiterate” and linking her alleged inability to return to the Senate to what he described as a lack of value to FCT residents.

“She is an illiterate, with all due respect, and that is why she is not going back to the Senate. She has nothing to offer to the people of the FCT,” Wike said.

The minister said he would rather focus on the implementation of projects than engage extensively with Kingibe’s criticism, arguing that the key issue should be whether borrowed funds were being used to develop the capital.

“If I took a loan, I am using it to work,” Wike said, questioning why the senator was more concerned about the existence of the loan than its application.

Wike said the FCT requires financing to execute major infrastructure projects and argued that Kingibe should instead ask whether the borrowed funds were being deployed for the benefit of residents.

He also connected the dispute to the political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the lifting of the campaign restriction for the presidential and National Assembly elections had changed the political environment.

According to Wike, his inspection of projects across Abuja was also an opportunity to showcase the work being carried out under the Tinubu administration.

“As I finish now, then she know what we are doing, and they are seeing every road, and tell everyone that this is what President Tinubu is doing,” he said.

Wike further stated that FCT residents had chosen to support Tinubu and would back Philip Aduda for the Senate seat, whom he described as his preferred candidate for the position.

“Let her pack her bags out, the people have made their choice by agreeing to support President Tinubu, and then will support Philip Aduda for Senate,” he said.

The minister’s latest comments continue a long-running political dispute between him and Kingibe over governance and development in the FCT. Wike has previously predicted that Kingibe would not return to the Senate in 2027.

Meanwhile, Wike said he was satisfied with progress on the road projects inspected across the territory, including the N1 road and routes extending from Tunga Madaki towards Zuba and Kagini.

He said the completed projects would provide economic benefits to residents of surrounding communities, adding that improving the lives of FCT residents remained the central purpose of governance.