The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his prediction that Senator Ireti Kingibe will not secure re-election in 2027.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike linked his forecast to what he described as the senator’s failure to deliver tangible projects to residents of the FCT.
“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 data,” Wike stated.
The minister argued that Kingibe has not maintained a visible presence in satellite communities, which he said represent a significant voting bloc within the territory. According to him, grassroots engagement will play a decisive role in the next election cycle.
“She is not there. Go to the satellite towns where the real voters are. She is not there,” he said.
Wike had first made a similar prediction in 2024, declaring that the senator would struggle to retain her seat in 2027.
His renewed comments follow recent accusations by Kingibe that the minister ignored her correspondence on rising insecurity in parts of the FCT. The senator also criticised what she described as inadequate attention to pressing social concerns, including water scarcity and infrastructure gaps affecting residents.
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During the briefing, Wike addressed criticism over his presence at polling units during the recent FCT area council elections. Opposition figures had questioned the propriety of his appearance at several voting centres.
“I’m the governor of FCT. For security, I have to find out what is going on. I don’t need to be told,” he said, adding that he was not a candidate in the election but acted within his authority as chief security officer of the territory.
Kingibe was elected to the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting in December 2025 to the African Democratic Congress.
The exchange signals an early start to political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both figures staking out public ground on governance and accountability in the Federal Capital Territory.
