FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe has left the Labour Party to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move seen as a major shift in the capital’s politics. She declared the upcoming 2026 area council elections a key battle, starting with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The formal registration event was held on Thursday at the ADC National Headquarters in Wuse, Abuja. Senior party officials and candidates for the upcoming local elections attended the ceremony.

Senator Kingibe, who now becomes the ADC’s only serving senator, framed her move as a call to action. She stated that the party’s work to win all six FCT area councils “starts with AMAC,” her home local government.

ADC leaders hailed her defection as proof of the party’s growing appeal. Former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu claimed the ADC is attracting members from major parties like the Labour Party, PDP, and APC, and is becoming a leading national alternative.

The switch is tied to immediate electoral goals. The ADC is focusing on the February 2026 FCT area council polls, aiming to capitalize on what it calls widespread public dissatisfaction. The party plans to contrast its “brand new politics” and younger candidates against established parties.

This defection reshapes the opposition landscape in the FCT ahead of the 2027 general elections. It positions the ADC as a more significant force and sets the stage for a competitive local election fight centered on promises of change.