Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) senatorial hopeful, Dr Juliet Muoneme, says she does not see former Senator Philip Aduda as a serious rival for the 2027 FCT senatorial race, arguing that his two decades in the National Assembly already give residents enough to judge him by.
Speaking Friday in Abuja at a media session with the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE), Muoneme laid out her development plans for the territory’s six area councils and voiced confidence in her ability to take on entrenched political figures.
Aduda, who spent eight years in the House of Representatives and 12 in the Senate representing the FCT, is seeking another term in 2027.
Muoneme questioned the need for him to run again after such a long tenure, suggesting that a strong record would have generated calls for him to return rather than requiring him to campaign for it himself.
She said her own approach to leadership emphasizes mentoring younger leaders and building a pipeline of succession, adding that she would have developed many mentees had she served even a single term.
On suggestions that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike could complicate her ambitions, Muoneme dismissed the idea, noting that his role as minister is distinct from that of a senator and that any claims of his backing another candidate remain unconfirmed rumor.
She acknowledged his infrastructural work in the territory but insisted their responsibilities don’t overlap.
Muoneme also pushed back on the notion that smaller parties can’t compete with dominant ones, pointing to the Labour Party’s rise as proof that strong candidates can elevate a party’s fortunes.
She noted the PRP dates back to 1978, making it a long-established political platform rather than a newcomer.
Her campaign, built around what she calls the FCT RISE Agenda; representation, research, innovation, inclusion, stewardship, entrepreneurship and empowerment, prioritizes affordable housing through partnerships between government, developers and lenders, along with an automobile hub to train and employ mechanics, electricians and young engineers.
She traced her interest in empowerment work to earlier efforts helping youths battling drug abuse gain skills in trades like tailoring and hairdressing, often through loans repaid into revolving funds to benefit others, which she said helped ease insecurity by keeping young people productively engaged.
Muoneme rejected characterizations of politics as inherently corrupt, calling it instead a form of service that discourages capable people when painted negatively.
She said her background in education, research and human-capacity development would guide her policy priorities, and stressed that her campaign extends beyond her home base in AMAC to all six area councils.
On farmer-herder tensions in the territory, she called for ranching and a more structured livestock system.
She also spoke against vote buying, urging voters to judge candidates on credibility and competence rather than financial inducements.
