Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria’s National Assembly, has resigned from the Labour Party (LP) and officially announced her defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, Kingibe described the move as a strategic and deliberate political realignment, pledging full commitment to her new party.
“I’m totally and completely committed to ADC,” she said. “As senator representing the FCT, I won’t just quietly go and pick up a party card. I will do it with fanfare.”
Defection Tied to Labour Party Factional Crisis
Justifying her decision, Kingibe pointed to the deepening factional divide within the Labour Party, noting that the existence of two rival factions provides legal grounds for her defection under Nigeria’s constitution.
“I ask you to please read the constitution. There are two factions—clear factions—of the Labour Party,” she emphasized.
Kingibe argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received conflicting results and candidates from both factions, underscoring the breakdown in party unity.
“If you ask me to stay in Labour Party, which faction do you want me to stay in?” she queried.
She insisted that her move was constitutional, citing a provision that allows lawmakers to switch parties without forfeiting their seat if internal divisions exist within their current party.
Hopeful on ADC and Coalition Growth
The senator, who won her seat under the LP in 2023, expressed confidence in the African Democratic Congress as a rising platform within Nigeria’s evolving opposition coalition.
“It’s something that is evolving. You cannot say, while your child is still crawling, that you’re unhappy with how he’ll run. We are growing,” she said.
Kingibe stressed that her defection was not only lawful but also rooted in a commitment to political development and national service.
Her formal induction into ADC, she said, will be marked by a public event, underscoring her intent to make the transition transparent and celebratory.