President Bola Tinubu is being called upon to intervene and address the controversial statements made by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who recently threatened to sabotage the re-election bid of Senator Ireti Kingibe, the sole senator representing Abuja, in the upcoming 2027 elections.
In a previous statement, Minister Nyesom Wike issued a threat against Senator Ireti Kingibe, who had spoken out against Wike’s handling of development projects in Abuja, criticizing his performance as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector? I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you.
“Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again. Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory, and I’m not afraid,” he said.
The Labour Party (LP) has condemned Minister Nyesom Wike’s threat against Senator Ireti Kingibe, demanding disciplinary action against him. According to Peter Dugwu, LP Chairman in the FCT, Wike’s comments were not only an attack on Kingibe but also on the LP, which she represents.
Dugwu vowed that the party will respond to Wike’s actions during the upcoming Area Councils’ election in the FCT, setting the stage for the 2027 general election. The LP emphasizes that Wike, as a presidential appointee, should not intimidate an elected representative like Kingibe.
Peter Dugwu, the Labour Party Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, declared in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune on July 2 that Nyesom Wike’s verbal attack on Senator Ireti Kingibe was also a slight against the Labour Party, which Kingibe represents.
Dugwu warned that the party will retaliate against Wike’s actions during the forthcoming Area Councils’ election in the FCT, paving the way for the 2027 general election showdown.
“We do not know on whose authority he is speaking. We want him to know that. This is not Rivers, and the FCT is not an extension of Rivers state.
“It is the LP that would decide whether Ireti is coming back or not, not Wike. He has no right or locus to ask her to go and focus on 2027; that is not his business,” he said.
Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, the national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), denounced Nyesom Wike’s remarks about Senator Ireti Kingibe as a form of verbal violence, condemning his threatening language as unacceptable and harmful. Ahmed’s criticism aligns with the growing chorus of voices speaking out against Wike’s intimidation tactics and advocating for respectful dialogue in political discourse.
Dr. Ajuji Ahmed stressed that Nyesom Wike overstepped his bounds by threatening to block Senator Kingibe’s re-election, as he lacks the power to control the political fate of others. Wike’s role as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory does not grant him the authority to dictate the electoral outcomes of other politicians, who were elected through a democratic process.
He said, “That (the attack) amounts to verbal violence because there is no reason why he (Wike) should do that. He is not in the LP. It was LP that elected her. He has nothing to do with LP and he is not the entire electorate of the FCT. There is no way somebody can stop someone from being re-elected in three years time. It’s not a savoury statement.”
Chief Chekwas Okorie, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), expressed disapproval of the verbal spat between Nyesom Wike and the FCT, urging both sides to put aside their differences and prioritize the development of the Federal Capital Territory. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and unity among public officials to achieve progress and improve the lives of citizens.
“For me, it is all politics. But it is unfortunate that they allowed their political differences to affect their service to the people.
“It is the National Assembly that presides over Abuja. One would have expected the two to work together. But it is bad that they are fighting each other,” he said.
