2027: PRP’s Muoneme Says Aduda Is No Threat, Challenges FCT Voters to Judge His 20-Year Record

2027: PRP’s Muoneme Says Aduda Is No Threat, Challenges FCT Voters to Judge His 20-Year Record

The 2027 senatorial candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Juliet Muoneme, has dismissed former Senator Philip Aduda as a threat to her ambition, urging FCT residents to assess his performance after 20 years in the National Assembly.

Muoneme stated this on Friday in Abuja during a media engagement with the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), where she outlined her vision for the FCT and expressed confidence in her ability to challenge established political interests in the territory.

Aduda represented the FCT in the House of Representatives for eight years before serving another 12 years in the Senate. He is seeking a return to the National Assembly in the 2027 elections.

However, Muoneme said she did not consider his political experience a major advantage, arguing that his long tenure had provided residents with sufficient opportunity to evaluate his record.

> “This same FCT, he was here for eight years as a House of Representatives member. This same FCT Senate, he was there for 12 years, meaning 20 years he has been running affairs of FCT,” she said.

She questioned the rationale behind seeking another term after two decades in the National Assembly.

 “If he was that efficient with a lot of projects here and there, does he even need to come out? It is people who should be asking him to recontest,” she added.

Muoneme said her leadership philosophy would prioritise mentoring younger leaders and establishing a clear succession structure.

> “With the kind of person I am and with my own kind of ideology, I must have had a lot of mentees through my mentorship programme if privileged to serve for just eight years,” she said.

Wike Not a Threat

The PRP candidate also dismissed the suggestion that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, could constitute an obstacle to her senatorial ambition.

 “Wike is a minister. He is not looking for FCT Senate. He has his work as a minister,” she said.

She cautioned against relying on claims that the minister had endorsed a particular candidate, describing such reports as hearsay unless Wike publicly declares his position.

While acknowledging the infrastructure projects being undertaken by the FCT Administration, Muoneme stressed that the responsibilities of a minister and a senator were fundamentally different.

 “A minister has his role. A senator has her role. So where exactly is the clash?” she asked.

‘Candidates Make Parties’

Addressing concerns about the PRP's strength compared with larger political parties, Muoneme argued that strong candidates could drive the popularity of political platforms.

“Candidates make party. Party is a political platform,” she said, citing the rise of the Labour Party as an example.

She noted that the PRP, established in 1978, was not a new political organisation and could provide a platform for candidates with credible ideas and leadership capacity.

FCT RISE Agenda

Muoneme said her campaign would be anchored on the FCT RISE Agenda, which focuses on representation, research, innovation, inclusion, stewardship, entrepreneurship and empowerment.

She identified affordable housing as one of her major priorities, proposing stronger collaboration among government, property developers and financial institutions to expand access to decent accommodation through affordable mortgage arrangements.

She also proposed the establishment of an automobile hub that would bring together mechanics, auto electricians and other professionals while providing practical training and opportunities for engineering graduates.

According to her, her commitment to human-capacity development predates her political ambition. She recalled working with young people facing drug abuse and other social challenges, facilitating skills acquisition in areas such as tailoring, hairdressing and tie-and-dye.

She explained that some beneficiaries were provided with loans rather than outright grants, with repayments channelled into revolving funds to support other beneficiaries.

 “I felt that one of the things we could do to curb insecurity and tension in an environment was to get the youths gainfully engaged,” she said.

‘Politics Is Service’

Muoneme rejected the perception that Nigerian politics was inherently “dirty”, saying such a narrative had discouraged competent Nigerians from participating in public service.

 “Politics is not dirty. Politics is about leadership. Politics is service,” she said.

She said her professional experience in education, research, entrepreneurship and human-capacity development would inform her legislative agenda if elected.

Muoneme further stressed that her ambition covered all six area councils of the FCT and was not limited to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where she resides.

 “I have come as that voice for those area councils that have not been getting the dividends of democracy in terms of development,” she said.

On the recurring clashes between motorists and cattle in parts of the FCT, she advocated ranching and a more organised livestock industry as part of efforts to address the problem.

She also rejected vote-buying, arguing that campaign resources should instead be deployed towards legitimate mobilisation, voter education and engagement.

“Politics is not all about money,” she said, urging voters to elect candidates based on credibility, competence and capacity to deliver.