FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has said Senator Ireti Kingibe will not return to the National Assembly in 2027, amid an ongoing public dispute between the pair over the administration of the Federal Capital Territory.
Wike made the comment on Tuesday while inspecting road projects in Abuja, according to TheCable, which first reported the remarks.
Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, had previously accused Wike of obtaining loans without securing the approval of the National Assembly.
Responding to the allegation, Wike said government borrowing must be provided for in the budget and approved by the National Assembly.
“There is no way you can go and take a loan without the approval of the national assembly,” Wike said.
He also dismissed Kingibe’s prospects of returning to the Senate, saying the people of the FCT had made their choice.
“I don’t want to comment about her. She is already packing her things out. The people of the FCT have made their choice. They are going to support president Tinubu and Philip Aduda for senate,” he said.
Wike further accused Kingibe of failing to deliver meaningful development for FCT residents and said her focus should instead be on whether borrowed funds were being properly applied to infrastructure projects.
The minister’s comments came after Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, said earlier this month that Wike had followed due process in securing loans for projects and programmes in the FCT.
Wike and Kingibe have repeatedly clashed publicly over issues relating to the governance and development of the capital.
The dispute comes ahead of the 2027 general election, when Kingibe’s Senate seat will again be contested.