Sen. Kingibe accuses Wike of autocratic style, faults FCT election curfew
The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of running the territory in an autocratic manner, alleging that he is unwilling to collaborate with elected officials and key administrative stakeholders.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Kingibe claimed that repeated attempts to engage the minister on governance issues had yielded no meaningful response.
According to her, several letters proposing cooperation and outlining development priorities for residents of the FCT were sent to the minister without constructive feedback.
“The minister is not willing to work with anybody,” she said, insisting that governance requires consultation and partnership rather than unilateral decision-making.
The lawmaker’s criticism comes against the backdrop of restrictions announced ahead of the FCT area council elections.
Wike had declared a work-free day and imposed a restriction of movement from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday to ensure order during the polls.
The decision was presented as a security and logistical measure to facilitate smooth voting.
However, Kingibe described the move as excessive, questioning the necessity of what she termed a 22-hour curfew in a city that had not recorded significant security threats linked to the election.
She argued that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies were adequately prepared, such sweeping restrictions would be unnecessary.
The senator also pointed out that Abuja, as Nigeria’s capital, hosts diplomatic missions, international organisations and regional institutions, making prolonged movement restrictions potentially disruptive.
Beyond the curfew, Kingibe framed her concerns within a broader governance debate.
She maintained that her focus remains on delivering democratic dividends to residents, not engaging in political rivalry.
The disagreement highlights growing tensions between the legislative representative of the FCT and the minister overseeing its administration, particularly as local government elections approach.
INEC is scheduled to conduct polls across the six area councils of the FCT, alongside bye-elections in parts of Rivers and Kano states.
As the capital prepares for the vote, the exchange between Kingibe and Wike underscores wider questions about executive authority, intergovernmental cooperation and the balance between security measures and civil convenience in Nigeria’s political process
