Senate sets to reconcile Wike, Ireti Kingibe

The Senate convened a closed-door session on July 3 to address a dispute between Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of FCT. This conflict has been escalating publicly, with significant implications for both officials.

The tension peaked when Wike threatened on July 1 that Kingibe would be unable to secure her Senate seat in the 2027 elections as long as he held his ministerial position. Kingibe, in response, has accused Wike of excluding her from the administration of FCT affairs.

The conflict has roots in Kingibe’s earlier complaints. Before the Senate’s end-of-session break, she raised a matter of privilege, questioning why the 2024 budget for the FCT was approved without her involvement. This issue, combined with the ongoing verbal exchanges, prompted the Senate to hold an executive session. Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for this session to specifically address Kingibe’s matter of privilege and seek a resolution to the conflict between her and Wike.