We are aware of one of her female aides who resigned after a scandal involving an alleged affair with the senator’s boyfriend
Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has come under sharp criticism from the spokesperson of the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, following remarks she made during a recent televised interview.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Senator Kingibe had accused Minister Wike of running the FCT like an emperor.
She alleged that his leadership style was authoritarian and warned that the people of the territory would rise against him during the local government elections scheduled for early next year. She suggested that public discontent with his administration would be made clear at the polls.
In a swift and fiery response, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Lere Olayinka, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the senator’s remarks and questioning her moral and political credibility.
Olayinka dismissed Kingibe’s comments as an attempt to revive what he described as her “dwindling political relevance.” He argued that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, would not be used as a platform to resuscitate the senator’s political career, insisting that the minister remains focused on delivering impactful infrastructure to the territory.
“It is ironic,” Olayinka stated, “that a person accusing others of disrespectful conduct is herself notorious for treating her legislative aides poorly. Many of them have resigned due to unpaid salaries and other unethical issues.”
He alleged that several of Senator Kingibe’s aides had quit over non-payment of salaries, some for as long as six months. He also accused her of treating her personal staff “like slaves” and implied there had been instances of immoral behavior in her office.
“We are aware of one of her female aides who resigned after a scandal involving an alleged affair with the senator’s boyfriend,” he claimed.
Further deepening the attack, Olayinka referenced the senator’s personal life, including the breakdown of her marriage to Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), though he stated cryptically, “We will keep our gunpowder dry for now.”
The statement also questioned the senator’s financial accountability, calling on her to explain how she handled a reported N3 billion allocation received last year.
Olayinka alleged that Kingibe had sold off constituency project contracts for between 15% and 20% of their original value — a practice considered exploitative and corrupt if proven true.
He concluded by reaffirming that Wike would not be distracted by political attacks. Instead, he said the minister remains committed to the infrastructural transformation of both the FCT city center and surrounding satellite towns.
“Only last week, 16 major projects were commissioned in celebration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office,” Olayinka said. “By this time next year, even more achievements will be on the ground for all to see.”
He further took a jab at Kingibe’s public identity, saying, “Senator Ireti Kingibe has no other political brand to present herself with except the name of a man she is no longer married to.”
The escalating war of words has stirred significant public interest, hinting at deepening tensions between the legislative and executive arms within the FCT.
As the 2025 local government elections approach, political observers are watching closely to see how these controversies might shape the race and influence public opinion in the nation’s capital.