Politics
120 APC Loyalists Defect To PDP In Rivers
Barely few weeks to the Presidential elections in the country, no fewer than 120 All Progressive Congress( APC) loyalists in Ikwerre Local Government Area have dumped the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The decampees also said that the APC in the state is dead and buried ahead of the governorship and presidential polls come February 16 and March 2, 2019, adding that APC has no candidates in the state
Director General of Campaign, PDP, Ikwerre Local Government Area Mr. Wogugu Augustine Wobusike disclosed this to The Tide during an interview at the PDP rally held at Saint Martins Anglican Church field, Omagwa, near the Port Harcourt International Airport last Monday.
Wobusike said the people of Ikwerre is ready to vote massively for Governor Wike come 2019 and the Presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in February and March polls.
Describing the Governor Wike as proactive, Wobusike said the 181 units in his locality would vote the party to victory come 2019 poll.
He lauded the governor for executing tangible projects across the communities in the area as he commended the state government for the completion of Ipo, Omademe, Iguruta , Isiokpo and Aluu internal roads projects.
On the PDP rally, Wobusike said the people of Ikwerre is not campaigning, but celebrating the Wike good jobs across Ikwerre communities in terms of project execution.
He appealed to the electorate to collect their Permanent Voters Card PVC and vote out the APC in the state come March 2 election.
Augustine also assured the governor that every unit in the area would deliver PDP massively come 2019 poll, even as he insisted that there is no political party in Ikwerre to compete with PDP or Governor Wike at the poll.
The Ikwerre PDP campaign chief told The Tide that the party and its teeming supporters would no longer fold their hands and allow any body in the area to intimidate and rig any election anymore as the electorate are ready to vote and defend their votes at the polls.
He lauded the PDP hierarchies for enthroning peace and unity in the party across the state.
Chinedu Wosu
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
-
Politics3 days agoSenate Receives Tinubu’s 2026-2028 MTEF/FSP For Approval
-
Sports3 days agoNew W.White Cup: GSS Elekahia Emerged Champions
-
Sports3 days ago
Players Battle For Honours At PH International Polo Tourney
-
News3 days agoRSG Lists Key Areas of 2026 Budget
-
Sports3 days agoAllStars Club Renovates Tennis Court… Appeal to Stop Misuse
-
News3 days agoDangote Unveils N100bn Education Fund For Nigerian Students
-
Sports3 days ago
NFF To Discuss Unpaid Salaries Surrounding S’Eagles Coach
-
News3 days agoTinubu Opens Bodo-Bonny Road …Fubara Expresses Gratitude