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CVR: 92,845 Nigerians Submit Online Applications

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has received 92,845 online applications nationwide within 48 hours of resumption of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
The commission in an updated statistics on the online registration stated that as at 7 a.m of Wednesday, 114,577 accounts were created by registrants.
It disclosed that of the 92,845 applications received, 63,437 were for new voter pre-registration, while 997 of the applications were requests for uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
It noted that at that  about 7 a.m 3,958 applications were received for voter transfer.
The commission disclosed that 826 of the applications were for the replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
The statistics also show that 21,745 applications were for voter record review, while 1,882 were for review of information.
The Tide source reports that the online registration started on June 28, while physical registration at INEC local government and state offices would commence on July 19.
Meanwhile, INEC has opted for a new registration machine known as INEC Voter Enrollment Device (IVED) instead of the Direct Data Capture Machine (DDCM) for the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) because it is more efficient.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Mutiu Agboke, stated this on Wednesday, in Ibadan while briefing newsmen on the commencement of CVR nationwide.
According to Agboke IVED which is built around the concept of a tablet computer is more mobile than DDCM, which is laptop based machine.
He further said that IVED could also be deployed to other activities, particularly the accreditation of voters during election.
Speaking on the CVR exercise which commenced on Monday, the REC said the commission decided to start the exercise with an online version and shall be followed by physical exercise on July 19, in all INEC local government offices nationwide.
He said the online exercise would reduce overcrowding at registration centres, especially in the context of Covid-19 pandemic and also important as a result of the prevailing security situation in the country.
He further disclosed that the exercise would be carried out continuously for a period of over one year, “thus providing enough time for the commission to reach all the nooks and crannies of the state”.
He maintained that no eligible Nigerian would be disenfranchised during election as a result of the online registration, reiterating that physical exercise would also take place.
Agboke explained that intending registrants could begin the process online through the dedicated portal – www.cvr.inecnigeria.org or www.cvr.inec.gov.ng
“By filling the form, uploading their pictures, required documents, then make an appointment on the web portal for a date to give their fingerprint and complete the registration,” he said.

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Senate Receives Tinubu’s 2026-2028 MTEF/FSP For Approval

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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.

 

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Withdraw Ambassadorial List, It Lacks Federal Character, Ndume Tells Tinubu 

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The senator representing Borno South in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s list of ambassadorial nominees, insisting it breaches the federal character principle and should be withdrawn ahead of this week’s screening by the Senate.

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.

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PDP Vows Legal Action Against Rivers Lawmakers Over Defection 

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the latest defection announced by some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing the move as a “defection from APC to APC” and an assault on democratic integrity.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the lawmakers had previously defected from the party, recanted their action, and have now “announced the same defection for the second time.”
According to Comrade Ememobong, the development comes as no surprise to the party.
“We have seen on various media platforms news of the redefection of some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who, for a second time, announced their defection from our party,” he said. “We recall that they had done so earlier and later recanted. These are people whom the world is aware are doing the bidding of their paymaster and demigod.”

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.”

The PDP spokesperson added that the lawmakers’ conduct fits a pattern of political absurdity.

“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.

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