Senator Ireti Kingibe has said the upcoming area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will serve as a critical assessment of the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
According to her, the polls will reveal whether residents support or reject his style of governance.
Speaking on Political Paradigm, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television, Kingibe who represents the FCT in the Senate claimed that many Abuja residents feel disconnected from Wike’s administration.
“Local government elections are coming early next year. That is when the people of the FCT show ministers, ‘we like you or we do not like you. The local government election is going to tell whether Wike controls FCT, because nobody does,” she said.
Senator Kingibe criticized the minister’s approach, accusing him of being out of touch with residents’ needs, especially in the areas of security and infrastructure.
“Most of Abuja is pitch dark. So I go there, put solar lights in between the places, and light up the place so that young people will at least be safer.”
“They will come give me awards, commend me for looking out for them. It’s not that he wouldn’t have done it too, except he doesn’t know what they need,” she stated.
She highlighted her personal interventions in communities plagued by poor security, saying she often receives direct appeals from residents and responds by installing solar-powered streetlights to enhance safety.
“I know Karu market is pitch dark. I put lights there. Communities will write to me: ‘There’s so much insecurity around this place. A few lights will make a difference.’ I put it.”
“Solar lights are cheap, but how many can I put? For where I can put one, the minister can put a thousand. Do you see the difference?” she added.
When asked about Wike’s recent remark that she would not return to the Senate in 2027, Kingibe dismissed the statement and said she is not desperate for a second term, but remains confident in her chances if she decides to run.
“You know, I was not interested in running, you want to bet? I know for certain that when I decide to run, it’s a shoo-in,” she said.
Kingibe also emphasized the independent-minded nature of FCT residents, stating that Wike’s leadership style has alienated the population.
“It’s only people who have lived here for a long time who know that the people of the FCT have their independent mind.”
“You walk on the streets, and you will know that the one thing that unites us all in the FCT is our resentment of the minister. It’s not just about development. It’s about treating us with levity, treating us with disregard and contempt,” Kingibe submitted.
Her remarks come amid growing political tension in the FCT ahead of the 2026 local elections, which many expect to be a key test of Wike’s influence in the capital.
