Senator Ireti Kingibe has launched a blistering criticism of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing him of autocratic leadership, disregard for constitutional processes, and mismanagement of public resources.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Monday, the FCT senator described Wike’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu as a “critical error,” claiming the former Rivers State governor has governed the nation’s capital with “complete disregard for the rule of law.”
“The primary issue is that the minister doesn’t obey the rule of law. He’s autocratic. He doesn’t follow any rules or laws,” Kingibe said. “When you try to remind him that governance is grounded in legality, he doesn’t accept it.”
She alleged that Wike had unilaterally reintroduced certain agencies without legal backing, bypassing the National Assembly’s authority. “If he wants these agencies reinstated, he should approach the National Assembly to create enabling laws. But he doesn’t, because he thinks he can do anything,” she said.
One of her key allegations was the revocation of land allocated to the University of Abuja. “The university had about 11,000 hectares. Wike has taken 7,000, leaving just four. That violates the Land Use Act. You can’t take land from institutions to give to individuals,” she said.
Senator Kingibe also raised concerns about job losses resulting from the dismissal of street sweepers in the FCT, many of whom, she said, were underprivileged women. “He fired them all and didn’t even replace them with mechanical sweepers. Now Abuja is dirty,” she said.
She further accused Wike of refusing to pay hundreds of small indigenous contractors in Abuja. “He says he didn’t award them the jobs and, therefore, won’t pay them. Two years on, they’re still unpaid,” she said.
Reacting to recent polls indicating Wike’s popularity, Kingibe dismissed the data, saying it depends on who conducted the survey. “Let’s see what happens during the upcoming local government elections. If he can’t get people to follow his directives then, all the bluster means nothing.”
The senator did not spare President Tinubu in her criticism, stating that appointing Wike was “the greatest wrong he’s done to himself.” She claimed Wike had converted land meant for a general hospital in Bwari into a market or mall.
“Minister Wike has also been harassing residents and even embassies over ground rent. It’s excessive,” she said.
Kingibe disclosed she is compiling documents to support her claims and plans to submit them to oversight bodies. “Wike derives his powers from the president, but he refuses to go to the National Assembly for anything other than the budget. What has he done with the IGR? There’s been no accountability,” she stated.
On whether she feared retaliation, she said, “I’m definitely not afraid of him. I’m not saying he should fear me either, but he should know that I’m aware of most things he does.”
The senator also shared concerns about her safety, recounting how a suspicious black SUV followed her after a recent oversight visit to Sokoto. “But I’m not afraid. I’m a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My protection comes from God,” she said.
Despite her criticism, Kingibe said she is still open to cooperation for the benefit of the FCT but lamented that her letters to the minister often go unanswered.
She also confirmed her defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). “I’ve been party-less for months. One faction said they suspended me, we said we suspended them. But yes, I’m with the ADC now,” she said.
Kingibe revealed that many FCT politicians have joined ADC in preparation for the 2026 election cycle. “We’re gearing up for a major battle with the APC,” she declared.
