Politics
‘I’m Still An Active APC Member’
Former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says he is still an active member of the party, in spite of his removal from office.
Oshiomhole said this when he spoke with newsmen on the sidelines of the fundraising and investiture of Mrs Victoria Unuoarumi as the 10th President of Rotary Club of Maitama, Abuja.
He said although an Appeal Court had voided his removal from office, he had chosen to sleep on his right on the matter.
“The court judgement was delivered on July 2, 2020 about two weeks after I was removed from office. I decided to make it public because I saw many commentaries suggesting that people were not aware that the case was dismissed. It was over a year that the case was dismissed.
“Initially I was not bothered, but when I saw the way commentators were talking on the issue, I realised that they were apparently not well informed that the case was dismissed.
“I said I should let the world know about it and we published it,” Oshiomhole who was also the chairman of the event said.
He said however, that he had no regret leaving as APC chairman.
“I have no regret leaving as APC chairman.
“Let me repeat what I said shortly after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC was dissolved, when I spoke with journalists then.
“I said then that regardless of the legality or illegality of the issue, I accepted what happened in good faith and I remain committed to doing whatever I can to support the party.
“Am still active in all APC activities and I don’t think that I needed to be a chairman to be of relevance.
“I didn’t join the party to become chairman, I joined in order to form an alternative platform capable of kicking PDP out of power and that objective was achieved.
“It doesn’t matter the way things have gone. The primary purpose was not for me to be APC chairman,” Oshiomhole said.
The former national chairman expressed optimism that Nigeria would hold a hitch-free general elections in 2023.
“I have hope for 2023. God will not forsake a nation of 200 million people in 2023, our democracy has come to stay, although it’s not perfect, a couple of things could be done to strengthen it.
“I believe that God in his infinite mercy will help Nigeria to sustain its democracy and guide us, as we move towards 2023 and the country will go forward.
“I want all of you to realise that I always make this point, because Nigeria is much bigger than the total sum of the problems bedevilling it. So am an optimist, “ he said.
Earlier in her acceptance speech, Unuoarumi promised to strive hard to take the club to the next level.
“I am indeed humbled and immensely grateful to all members of our great club for finding me worthy to serve them. It is with great joy and humility that I accept to serve as the 10th President of our great club.
“As a servant leader, I pledge to work with my fellow teammates and volunteers in selfless service to take our club to the next level,” she said.
The Tide source reports that some distinguished Nigerians were honoured at the event for their numerous contributions towards the development of the country.
They included Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, Minister for State for FCT, Dr Edwin Clark, Sen. Sani Ahmed, Chief Lawrence Ojemeni, former FCT Minister Aliyu Modibbo, Chief Sanni Felicia, Dr Joy Okoro and Mr Yusuf Ali.
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.
