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Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has officially announced her decision to leave the Labour Party (LP) and join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Senator Kingibe described her defection as a strategic and well-thought-out decision. She added that the move would soon be formalised through a public event marked by celebration and media attention.
“I am totally and wholeheartedly committed to the ADC,” she declared. “However, as the sitting senator representing the FCT, I am not just going to quietly take a lunch break and pick up a membership card. I plan to make the switch with fanfare and in full view of the public.”
When asked whether she had confidence in the leadership of the ADC and the broader coalition she is joining, Kingibe acknowledged that the party was still undergoing development. She used a metaphor to describe the party’s growth process: “It’s a work in progress. You can’t criticize a child for not running when he’s still crawling. You have to give it time. We are still growing,” she said.
Responding to concerns regarding the constitutional implications of her defection — particularly whether it might jeopardize her Senate seat — the senator argued that the current state of division within the Labour Party provides her with legitimate grounds to switch parties without penalty.
“I urge everyone to consult the Nigerian Constitution. There are clearly two opposing factions within the Labour Party at the moment. This situation fits the constitutional provision that permits an elected official to decamp without facing legal consequences,” she explained.
She continued by questioning which faction of the Labour Party critics expect her to remain loyal to: “So, when people say I should stay in the Labour Party, my question is — which one? There are two clearly distinct factions.
“Even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received two different sets of candidates and election results from the LP, though they declined to recognize either.”
Senator Kingibe further argued that even before the emergence of the current factions, constitutional provisions regarding defections were rarely enforced in practice.
However, she emphasized that her move to the ADC is within the bounds of the law: “In the past, even when there weren’t two clear factions, no one seriously enforced these constitutional rules. But I’m someone who respects the law.
“If there weren’t two distinct factions in the Labour Party, I would never have considered defecting, as that would be unconstitutional. But the reality is that there are — and that provides a valid basis for my decision to join the ADC.”
She concluded by stating that while she had the freedom to choose any political platform under the circumstances, she specifically chose the ADC as her new political home.