Senator Ireti Kingibe, who was elected under the Labour Party in 2023 to represent the Federal Capital Territory, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), becoming the first serving lawmaker in Nigeria to defect to the party.

Ms Kingibe announced the development in a post on X on Saturday, saying she completed her registration as an ADC member on December 18, 2025, at the National Merit House in Maitama, Abuja.

Describing the move as “deliberate, strategic, and driven by conviction,” the senator said her decision marked “a historic step” in her commitment to FCT residents and the future of Nigeria.

“With this decision, I have become the first serving and duly elected public office holder in Nigeria to officially join the ADC, and the only serving senator within the party,” she wrote.

Ms Kingibe said her entry into the ADC automatically confers leadership responsibilities on her within the party’s structure in the FCT and at the national level, positioning her as a coalition partner in efforts to build what she described as a credible, people-centred alternative for governance.

The lawmaker, a civil engineer by training, said her political career has been anchored on service, integrity and results, stressing her belief in “technical governance, evidence-based policymaking, and sustainable development,” particularly in infrastructure, housing and urban planning for the nation’s capital.

She added that her defection would strengthen the ADC’s footing in the FCT ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections and help position the party as a growing force ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“More importantly, it enhances my capacity to advocate more forcefully for the rights, welfare, and aspirations of FCT residents on the national stage,” Ms Kingibe said, pledging to continue representing the territory “with courage, clarity, and competence.”

New