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Reps Minority Leadership Crisis: PDP NWC Summons Elumelu, Oke, Ikpeazu, Others …Berates Gbajabiamila’s Imposition Plot …I’m Not Surprised By The Treachery -Wike
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in its 473rd meeting, yesterday, resolved to summon Hon. Ndudi Elumelu to a crucial meeting tomorrow at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.
Other invited members are Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwadi, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya Abdul-Majid.
PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, who disclosed this development in a statement, said it was in line with the provisions of Chapter 10 (57)(3) of the Constitution of the PDP.
The members, according to Ologbondiyan, would appear before the members of the National Working Committee at 10 am.
Meanwhile, the PDP and the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, have rejected the alleged attempt by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to impose leaders on the party in the House of Representatives.
The PDP also explained that the party had duly written to the Speaker after consultation with other minority members in the parliament, notifying him of members that have been selected for leadership in line with dictates of the rules and parliamentary practice.
The party spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan affirmed that the opposition party was dismayed that the Speaker attempted to smuggle in names other than those recognised and forwarded to him as the leaders of the minority in the lower chamber.
He added, “The PDP, in the strongest terms, cautions against this abuse of rules, parliamentary practices and procedures as well as the convention and we urge the speaker to respect the rules and read the list submitted to him by the leadership of the PDP.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the list forwarded to the Speaker by the PDP is as follows: Hon. Kingsley Chinda – Minority Leader, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema- Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Yakubu Barde – Minority Whip, Hon. Muraina Ajibola – Deputy Minority Whip”.
Also reacting to the move, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said that he was not surprised by what happened at the House of Representatives, stating that trading has been placed above party loyalty at the House.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Governor of Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike stated that he was purely a party loyalist who believes in the ideals of the PDP.
He said: “I am not surprised. When you have traders and merchants, what do you expect?
“It is unfortunate for those who do not understand what politics is all about. I am a core party man. I believe in the party”.
Wike said that peer review was necessary to advance the course of development across the states of the federation.
“I am happy for this visit. We shall reciprocate the visit at the appropriate time. It is good for us to continue to compare notes to learn best practices from each other”, he said.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Oyo State Governor to move the state forward and entrench development.
Earlier, the Oyo State Governor had said that what happened at the House of Representatives where the position of the PDP was subverted calls for concern.
“We all saw what happened at the National Assembly, yesterday (Wednesday), they are things that calls for concern. If the party takes a position on certain things, we want to ensure that, it is carried through”, he said.
He added that he was in Rivers State to also discuss issues of true federalism and the role of states in the development process.
Makinde commended the Rivers State Governor for his developmental strides during his first term, saying that he expects him to deliver more projects for the people.
Meanwhile, the House of the Representatives, yesterday, resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the rowdy session and attempt by some members to grab the mace during plenary, last Wednesday.
This was sequel to a matter of privilege raised by Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) at the plenary, yesterday.
Earlier, Kalu had said that it was disappointing to see ranking members engage in a struggle to displace the mace during sitting.
He alleged that Rep. Gogo Bright (PDP-Rivers) carried the mace from the upper bracket, and put it on the lower bracket during plenary which was not supposed to be so.
The Tide gathered that the rowdy session was triggered by the Speaker’s refusal to respect the PDP’s choice for the Minority Leader of the House, which had nominated Hon Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) in the party’s official letter to Gbajabiamila.
But instead of announcing the PDP’s choice, the Speaker announced Hon Ndudi Elumelu (Delta-PDP) as House Minority Leader.
Kalu said that he was a new member, who joined the National Assembly with a patriotic zeal to contribute to nation building, saying that the event breached his privileges.
He urged the House to set up the committee to investigate the matter to forestall future reoccurrences.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) agreed that the scene created by some members breached the collective privileges of the House.
Gbajabiamila said an ad-hoc committee would be constituted to look into the matter.
The Speaker also named the principal officers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They are Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Kano) as House Leader; Peter Akpatason (Edo) as Deputy House Leader; Hon. Tahir Mohammed Monguno (Borno) as Chief Whip; and Nkiruika Onyejeocha (Abia) as Deputy Chief Whip.
Gbajabiamila, while making the announcement, said the constitution of the leadership of the House was in line with Order 7 Rule 4 which states that the leadership of the House should be nominated from members of the House.
Wrapping up the announcement, he said: “According to the rules of the House, the leadership of the House has now been legally constituted.”
President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”