News
PDP NEC, Govs, Presidential Aspirants Meet, Today …Hold Talks On Merger Plans
The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, will today meet with all the party presidential aspirants.
Others invited for the crucial meeting are all PDP present and former governors, members of the National Assembly and former members, all members of the BoT, members of PDP former ministers forum, and all state chairmen.
It was gathered that the meeting may not be unconnected to the forthcoming alliance between PDP and other political parties, ahead of 2019 elections.
Recall that it was reported that PDP, Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and a host of other political parties are forming alliance to wrestle power from President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC.)
Speaking with our correspondent on this development, former Minister of Aviation and a PDP stakeholder, Femi Fani-Kayode said that he does not know why the PDP National Chairman summoned the meeting.
But, asked to comment on the alliance, Fani-Kayode said that the alliance is the only way forward and the only option PDP has to get rid of APC government.
He pointed out that without the alliance, defeating Buhari’s government would be difficult.
The former Minister expressed fear that Buhari government may not leave power even if it loses in 2019 presidential election.
He said: “Alliance is the way forward. That is the only option we have. We really want to get rid of these people. If we don’t have alliance, it will be difficult, but, when we have that, it will be much easier. Even then, I think it will be very difficult for them to leave power because of what they have done to other people, they won’t want it done to them. So, they will entrench themselves even when they lose. They will rather scatter everything.
Meanwhile, PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan has said that APC is on the throes of death.
The party further said that the ruling party panic-stricken leadership has resorted to fabrications and cheap blackmail against those leaving their sinking ship in droves.
“Already suffering from pre-defeat trauma ahead of the 2019 elections, the now shattered APC has become intensely nervous and chaotic over the soaring popularity of the PDP as well as the surge of Nigerians, across board, into our fold as a repositioned and rebranded party.
“We are therefore not surprised that the APC, out of frustration, has recourse to sponsoring of spurious publications filled with deceptions, fabrications and lies against the PDP.
“The APC is particularly unsettled by the huge successes recorded by the Liyel Imoke-led PDP Contact and Integration Committee, in seamlessly galvanizing alliances among stakeholders across other parties, including those returning from the overtly dysfunctional and derelict APC.
“The APC is further disconcerted by the spirit of accommodation, agreement and oneness of purpose that pervade the alliances among old, new and returning members of the PDP in our key structure across all the states of the federation, particularly in Sokoto, Kogi, Kwara and Kano states, where all new and retuning members have been accorded very warm reception.”
PDP said that it knows that APC will stop at nothing in its sneaky efforts to cause confusion among its members, including suggesting that there are disagreements where none exists.
“What the APC, in its depravity and desperation, has failed to note is that the PDP had, since its repositioning, made adequate arrangements, ahead of time, to accommodate all interests and alignments in this collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of President Muhammadu Buhari, come 2019,” it said.
The party challenged APC to come to terms with the fact that “as the name of our great party connotes, the rebranded and repositioned PDP remains a party of all Nigerians and will continue to provide equal opportunity for all Nigerians to freely aspire, even for the highest position in the land, irrespective of creed, tribe or even previous party affiliations.
“We advice the APC leaders to further accept the fact that their party is now beleaguered with a demystified and unpopular presidential candidate and an unelected National Chairman who is overburdened by corruption allegations and as such can no longer produce a President that will be acceptable to majority of Nigerians.”
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
-
Rivers2 days agoFTAN Gets New State Coordinator … To Push For Tourism
-
News2 days ago
NDLEA arrests two drug kingpins in Lagos, seizes cocaine, heroine
-
Sports2 days agoGroup lauds Foundation’s contribution to football, youth dev.
-
Education2 days ago
Lga boss tasks corp members on diligent service to fatherland
-
Politics2 days agoNew PDP Leaders Emerge In Adamawa After Congress
-
Sports2 days agoForest Still Looking For Winning Formula
-
online games3 days agoThe Power of Advanced Historical Data and Live Metrics for Football Analytics
-
Rivers2 days ago
Democratic Rule Return Sparks Renewed Debate In Rivers