Ireti Kingibe Defends Senate Role Against Wike's Criticism

Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, countered Minister Nyesom Wike's recent criticisms by stating that the residents of the FCT, not individual politicians, will decide their Senate representation in the upcoming 2027 elections. Wike had previously supported former senator Philip Aduda, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, and labeled Kingibe as an "illiterate," questioning her contributions to the territory.

In her defense, Kingibe asserted that her inquiries regarding the FCT Administration's borrowing practices were part of her legislative duties. She claimed that the FCT Administration had acquired loans without National Assembly approval, citing figures from the Debt Management Office that indicated a significant increase in the FCT's domestic debt from N88.51 billion in September 2023 to N389.88 billion by March 2026.

Kingibe expressed her commitment to accountability and transparency, stating that her role as a senator includes questioning government actions.