Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Ireti Kingibe has formally defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as “deliberate and strategic” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja, Kingibe declared full commitment to her new party, hinting at an official declaration event to follow. “I want to do so with noise and fanfare,” she said, asserting that her defection was not a quiet exit but a calculated shift.
Kingibe defended her decision on constitutional grounds, citing deepening factional crises within the Labour Party as justification. “There are two clear factions,” she noted, referencing legal provisions that permit a lawmaker to switch parties under such circumstances without forfeiting their seat.
When asked about her faith in the ADC’s strength, she likened the party’s growth to that of a developing child: “You cannot say while your child is still crawling that you’re unhappy with how he’s going to run. We are growing.”
Her defection signals the beginning of political realignments as the race for 2027 intensifies.