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Senator Ireti Kingibe, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has narrated how she and other politicians were violently assaulted and briefly held hostage by suspected political thugs during a disruption at the headquarters of the African Democratic Congress in Gudu, Abuja.
In a press statement issued on May 23, 2026, Senator Ireti described the incident as a shocking, barbaric, and deeply unprovoked act of political thuggery and violence targeted at herself, party officials, and a House of Representatives aspirant.
According to the senator, the incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, when she visited the ADC State Secretariat at House A7, Adisa Estate, Gudu, in her official capacity to observe the distribution of materials for the party’s National Assembly primary elections.
She explained that members of the Primary Elections Committee, alongside several House of Representatives aspirants, were present during the exercise. She also said the committee chairperson, Mr Abubakar Adams Chika, and the committee secretary, Mr David Godwin Itopa, also known as “History,” had briefed attendees on the election process before distributing materials.
According to her statement, the situation escalated shortly after most committee members had left the venue.
The senator said a man identified as Tijani Mubarak entered the room accompanied by four men. She explained that tensions rose after Mubarak reportedly became confrontational during a discussion with the committee chairperson.
“When the Chairperson rightfully stated that he would not tolerate such disrespect and had nothing further to say to him, Mubarak stood up and violently slapped the Chairperson of the Committee,” she stated.
She further explained that the situation turned chaotic after a House of Representatives aspirant (Dr Fatima) attempted to record the altercation on her phone.
“Infuriated by this, Mubarak ordered his thugs to seize her phone. These men violently grabbed the aspirant, lifting her entirely off the ground as they wrestled her for the device, injuring her hands in the process,” the statement reads. “As I witnessed this lawlessness, one of Mubarak’s men turned on me. He grabbed me and flung me violently against the wall, hitting my head against the wall with severe force.”
The senator credited her security aides with preventing further assault, saying they intervened and restrained the attacker while others attempted to calm the situation.
She further stated that the attackers locked the exit door, trapping those inside the room. The senator described the incident as an attack on democracy, the rule of law, and women’s participation in politics, while calling for accountability over the violence.
“I call upon the Inspector General of Police and the FCT Police Commissioner to immediately order the arrest, thorough investigation, and swift prosecution of the individual known as Tijani Mubarak and all his accomplices.
“As one of the few women serving in the Nigerian Parliament, and as a champion for women’s rights, I state categorically that the barbaric manhandling of a female aspirant and the physical assault on my person will not be swept under the carpet. Security agencies must send a clear signal that the political space is safe for women,” the Senator said.
