In a surprise political move ahead of the 2027 general election, Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has announced her defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Kingibe confirmed that her departure from the LP was a deliberate and strategic decision, citing ongoing factional crises within the party as her primary reason.
“I’m totally and completely committed to ADC,” Kingibe declared.
“But obviously, as the senator representing the FCT, don’t expect me to just take a lunch break and go and collect a card. I want to do so with noise and fanfare.”
She added that the official declaration would be made soon, accompanied by public fanfare.
When asked about her confidence in the leadership and direction of the ADC, the senator described the party as “evolving,” and likened it to a child still learning to walk.
“You cannot say while your child is still crawling that you are not happy with how he’s going to run. You wait. We are growing.”
On concerns about the constitutional implications of her defection, especially regarding the risk of losing her Senate seat, Kingibe argued that the Labour Party is currently factionalised, which constitutionally permits her to switch parties.
“This is the definition that the constitution gave — why it would be okay to decamp to anywhere I wanted to go to. I just chose ADC.”
Senator Kingibe was among several prominent politicians present at the July 2 unveiling of the ADC as the new platform for an emerging opposition coalition in Abuja.
Her move is expected to reshape political alignments in the FCT and potentially strengthen the ADC’s presence in the capital.
