1 day Ago By Saawua Terzungwe
By Saawua Terzungwe The political posture and disposition of Senator Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party, FCT) on burning national issues have left many observers uncertain about her ideological leaning. Since assuming office in 2023, controversies have trailed her every move, making her one of the most discussed lawmakers in the National Assembly. Her political trajectory has been marked by conflicts, shifting alliances, and an evolving role in the Senate, leading analysts to question where she truly stands.
The federal lawmaker, a Labour Party (LP) member, overcame significant political challenges to become the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disrupting the long-standing dominance of Senator Philip Aduda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had held the seat for 12 years. However, some analysts and FCT residents argue that since assuming office, Kingibe has failed to bring meaningful development to her constituents. Instead, they accuse her of engaging in what they describe as inconsistent and unpredictable politics.
Born in 1954, Kingibe is the younger sister of Ajoke Mohammed, the wife of former Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed. She was previously married to Babagana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
She attended Queen’s College in Lagos, Washington Irving High School, and the University of Minnesota, United States, where she earned a degree in civil engineering. Political trajectory and controversies Early in her tenure, Kingibe publicly clashed with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of sidelining her. Their political feud gained prominence when she alleged that Wike was running the FCT without consulting elected representatives, particularly herself.
During a media appearance, she criticised Wike for what she called “executive overreach,” arguing that he should not solely determine the direction of governance in the FCT; without input from elected officials. She also raised concerns about the allocation of resources, transparency, and the minister’s approach to urban renewal projects. Amid their feud, Wike vowed to unseat her in the 2027 election, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio advised Wike to “ignore Senator Ireti” during the flag-off of the Kugbo Bus Terminal construction in the FCT.
Observers note that Kingibe’s battles with Wike have contributed to what some see as her limited political achievements. Her critics argue that rather than engaging in direct confrontations, she should have focused on effective collaboration to deliver tangible development to the FCT. While her scuffle with the FCT minister could be said to have subsided in recent times, Senator Kingibe again attracted public scrutiny to herself on the controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio.
Kingibe initially stated that Natasha had contacted neither her nor any of the female senators about the matter, leading many commentators to suggest that her posturing on the matter appeared to have favoured the Senate President when most had expected her to be one of the voices of support for the embattled Kogi Central senator. During an interview on ARISE TV, Kingibe said she and her three female colleagues had never experienced harassment from a male senator or Akpabio. She also faulted Natasha for not answering their calls to discuss the issue in detail.
However, in a later statement on her X handle titled “My Unwavering Stance for Justice and Women’s Rights,” Kingibe changed her position, pledging to champion the case and ensure justice. “I want to assure Nigerians that I will be at the forefront of this case when the investigation reaches the Senate,” she said. “My actions were not intended to undermine Natasha’s claims.
I was simply unaware of the allegations at first. Nonetheless, I remain steadfast in fighting against all forms of violence against women and girls.” Critics had argued that this was an afterthought on her part because of the criticism her earlier position had attracted.
A similar scenario appeared to have played out during the controversial Senate ratification of the state of emergency in Rivers State. Kingibe, who had notably failed to participate in the Senate debate, had issued a statement on her social media account after the ratification to question the Senate’s decision. After the Senate approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergency rule in the state, she issued a statement criticising the use of a voice vote to determine the required two-third majority.
“A voice vote, where members agree by saying ‘aye’ or ‘nay,’ cannot precisely measure the required two-third majority,” she argued. While her stance was constitutionally valid, it sparked political debate, with some dismissing it as unnecessary opposition after the fact. Mixed reactions from constituents Some FCT residents have expressed differing opinions on Kingibe’s political approach and performance.
Barrister Abdullahi Jalo, a resident of Nyanya in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), told Daily Trust that the senator’s performance has been subpar. In a phone interview, Jalo questioned why Kingibe has not used her position to attract development to the FCT, instead of attributing setbacks to a lack of cooperation from the FCT minister. “It would be a taboo for her to claim she is being distracted,” Jalo said.
“If her performance is below standard, should a few individuals be the reason she neglects her constituents? They voted for her because they believed in her. “I have not seen any of her projects. I live in Nyanya, and to be honest, she has not achieved anything tangible.
She fought hard for this position, and I expected more from her. Right now, she is not doing well.” On the alleged forces working against Kingibe, Jalo argued that before Wike’s appointment as FCT minister, she was already a senator and should focus on her responsibilities.
“Politics is competitive. She defeated someone to get here, so she should simply do the right thing.” Kelvin Momoh, a teacher and constituent, urged Kingibe to prioritise delivering democratic dividends rather than political battles.
“Politics and performance are in the blood,” Momoh told Daily Trust. “You don’t need eight years to make a difference.” Another FCT resident, Ayuba Samson, advised Kingibe to improve her performance before the next election.
However, Umom S. Samuel, another constituent, noted that Kingibe is still in her first term and should not be judged too harshly yet. “Unlike Aduda, who was in the Senate for 12 years, Ireti has barely completed two years and is still learning the ropes,” Samuel said.
“She is navigating the political landscape, including the challenges posed by male politicians such as the FCT minister and the Senate president. Remember, she came in via the platform of a minority party; a third force that gave her the ticket (LP). As a woman, she needs time to navigate the hurdles associated with the terrain,” he added.
Lucy Lawrence, a resident of Kuje Area Council, echoed this sentiment, saying Kingibe deserves more time to address the challenges in her jurisdiction. Analysts weigh in Like her constituents, political analysts have also expressed mixed views on Kingibe’s performance. Professor Abubakar Kari, a political sociologist at the University of Abuja, said Kingibe started well but later lost momentum.
“She started fairly well, making the usual right noises, visiting places, engaging constituents, and doing the typical politician’s grandstanding. But she gradually and progressively derailed,” Kari said. He noted that Kingibe had yet to sponsor any significant bill or motion and appeared to be struggling with distractions.
“She is certainly being distracted—perhaps by Wike, with whom she has had open altercations. The two don’t see eye to eye, and are even working at cross purposes. This tells significantly on her overall performance,” he said.
Similarly, Jackson Lekan Ojo, another political analyst, described Kingibe’s performance as disappointing. “People expected her to perform well, particularly as an FCT senator. But even those outside the FCT are disappointed in her,” Ojo said.
He criticised her for failing to assert her presence in the FCT, adding that she lacked a visible role in infrastructure development. “If the FCT minister is commissioning or flagging off a project, you don’t see her there. Instead, you see Aduda.
I have never seen Kingibe flag off any project in the FCT,” Ojo stated. He also criticised her handling of Natasha’s allegations against Akpabio. “As a female senator, she should be a leading voice against gender oppression.
Instead, she stood against Natasha. So I don’t understand her; she has come across as a senator that cannot defend and protect her gender,” he said. Ojo argued that Wike’s prediction that Kingibe would not win a second term was likely to come true, as she had not represented the FCT well enough to deserve re-election.
Another political analyst, Alhaji Aminu Yakudima, said Kingibe had found herself in a tight spot and had “nothing much to offer.” Yakudima suggested that Wike was likely to support Aduda’s return in 2027, as the former senator had been moving closely with the minister while Kingibe appeared sidelined. “Wike and Kingibe don’t work together.
There is a clear disagreement between them,” he noted. Efforts to get Senator Kingibe’s response were unsuccessful, as she did not answer multiple calls from our reporter. She also did not respond to text and WhatsApp messages sent to her.
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