The Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party have condemned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s threat to block Senator Ireti Kingibe’s re-election in 2027.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order, reminding him that Kingibe was elected by the people, while Wike is just an appointee.
LP Chairman in the FCT, Peter Dugwu, stated that Wike’s attack on Kingibe is an attack on the LP and vowed to respond appropriately in the forthcoming Area Councils’ election.
“We are advising President Tinubu to call Wike to order.
“He is just an appointed minister by the president. For Ireti, election into the Senate in the FCT has a process in which Ireti satisfied, meeting all the requirements before becoming a senator,” he said.
He continued, “We do not know on whose authority he is speaking. We want him to know that. This is not Rivers and the FCT is not an extension of Rivers state.
“It is the LP that would decide whether Ireti is coming back or not, not Wike. He does not have any right or locus of asking her to go and focus on 2027, that is not his business.
“Does he not know that he is a tenant in FCT merely appointed by the president and if Mr. President decides to remove him, he will be removed without any ceremony.”
NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, described Wike’s statement as “verbal violence” and emphasized that he lacks the power to stop Kingibe’s re-election, according to Nigerian Tribune.
Both parties emphasized that Kingibe’s qualification to run for office is determined by her party and the electorate, not Wike.
They warned Wike to respect his limits as an appointed minister and not overstep his bounds.
