The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has criticized the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of being disconnected from the needs of Abuja residents.
Kingibe said the growing resentment toward the minister will become clear during the upcoming local government elections scheduled for early 2026.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Kingibe said many residents feel neglected and disrespected by Wike’s leadership style and failure to address key infrastructure and security challenges across the territory.
“Most of Abuja is pitch dark,” she said. “So I go there, put solar lights in between the places, light up the place so that young people will at least be safer.”
The senator revealed she has taken up community lighting projects with her limited constituency resources, installing solar-powered streetlights in areas like Karu Market and other neighbourhoods where residents have voiced security concerns.
According to her, the widespread darkness in many areas has contributed to increasing insecurity.
“Communities will write to me: ‘There’s so much insecurity around this place. A few lights will make a difference.’ I put it,” Kingibe added.
“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?”
Kingibe alleged that Wike’s approach to governance is rooted in disregard for the unique character of the FCT and its residents, describing his behaviour as “treating us with levity, disregard, and contempt.”
She emphasized that FCT residents are politically aware and fiercely independent, and warned that Wike’s influence will be tested during the local council elections.
“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,’” she said.
“The local government election is going to tell whether Wike controls FCT, because nobody does.”
When asked about Wike’s recent comment that she wouldn’t return to the Senate in 2027, Kingibe brushed it off, saying she is not desperate to run but remains confident in her connection with constituents.
“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.
She claimed that residents share her dissatisfaction with Wike’s leadership style.
“It’s people who live here, 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,” she concluded.
