Senator Ireti Kingibe and Wike are now at the center of a public war of words that’s drawing attention beyond the FCT. For those familiar with the complex interplay of Abuja politics, this isn’t just a spat between two public officials. It’s becoming a proxy battle over 2027 a fight for relevance, political territory, and perhaps, survival.
It started with a sting. During a television appearance, Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory, described the appointment of Nyesom Wike as FCT Minister by President Tinubu as “a mistake.” It wasn’t a subtle jab. It was a direct challenge to Wike’s authority and legacy in the capital city. She accused him of operating with impunity and ignoring democratic norms.
Wike didn’t respond personally. Instead, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, fired back and he didn’t mince words. He called Kingibe a woman “blinded by the spirit of a coming defeat,” accusing her of clout-chasing and trying to revive a dying political career by hurling stones at a man who is “delivering visible results.”
According to Olayinka, Kingibe was speaking from a place of desperation, unable to accept that her surprise 2023 Senate win may be her first and last. He mocked her for still using the name of her former husband, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, and challenged her to take her anti-Wike rhetoric directly to communities now benefiting from new roads, school renovations, and long-delayed development projects.
To Olayinka and many pro-Wike voices online, the matter is clear. Wike has transformed Abuja in just a few months — tackling infrastructure projects that had stalled for years. From roads in Kabusa and Dei-Dei to progress at the long-forgotten FCT University in Abaji, they say he’s proving that a “Rivers bulldozer” can deliver in the capital.
But is the tension really about performance? Or is it deeper rooted in political strategy and future ambitions?
Also Read: Senator Ireti Kingibe Backs Youths’ Petition for Electoral Reform in Nigeria
Wike’s Transformation vs. Kingibe’s Caution: Who Has the People?
Wike is known for his aggressive, hands-on approach. In Rivers State, it earned him praise and fear in equal measure. In Abuja, he’s brought that same energy, pushing projects with speed and blunt authority. But Senator Ireti Kingibe and Wike seem to have fundamentally different views of leadership and that difference is now playing out in the media.
Kingibe is raising concerns about governance style. In her interview, she didn’t deny the existence of projects. She questioned process. She challenged what she sees as centralization of power, lack of consultation, and a bulldozing approach that ignores local voices. To her, Wike’s methods may look efficient, but they reflect impunity, not democratic leadership.
Her supporters online agree. One user, @ibeneme83, tweeted,
“APC can’t win Abuja. Wike knows this. Forget sentiments… it’ll be hard for them to take this town.” Others argue that attacking a sitting senator, especially one who won a major election in 2023, reveals deep insecurity.
As @Peretobou pointed out,
“A lady who has aides like you. Who does this man think he is?”
Then there are those who see a pattern in Wike’s political conduct. They say he tries to dominate every arena he enters.
David Sunday wrote bluntly,
“Wike can’t colonize Abuja like he did in Rivers.” The fear is not whether he can deliver projects, but whether he wants to own the entire space and silence opposition.
Still, not everyone is sympathetic to Kingibe. Some are skeptical of her motives. @DavidEwhe
argued that her silence on constituency projects suggests she’s not planning to run again. “That’s why she’s keeping her money and not embarking on any project,” he posted.
And that brings us back to the key question: is this really about governance style, or about 2027?
