Politics
2023: Why C’River Electorate Are Rooting For PDP Guber Candidate – Groups
Ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Cross River State, some prominent socio-political groups have observed that the growing acceptance of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Senator Sandy Onor, by voters in the state is as a result of his leadership track record and grassroots political ideologies.
While declaring support for the governorship aspiration of Senator Sandy who currently represents Cross River Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, the groups noted that support for his candidature had continued to swell, despite being in the opposition party in the state, because of the belief amongst the electorate that he’ll put an end to the long suffering of the masses.
Addressing newsmen separately, the groups made up various coalitions noted that voters in the state had decided not to vote along ethnic lines but rather focus on the leadership antecedents of the various candidates aspiring for various positions, especially the governorship.
Reeling out Sandy’s leadership qualities, including his achievements at the Senate, a group known as “Peaceful Ladies” declared total support and commitment to the governorship aspiration of the Cross River Senator.
The Group’s coordinator, Ms. Janet Uchebo, said that they had resolved to align with Senator Sandy to reclaim the lost glory of the state.
The group stated this over the weekend during a courtesy call by its executives to the Office of the Director General of the “Caterpillar Movement”, Chief Joe Obi Bisong located at No. 143 Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar.
Harping on Sandy’s accomplishments, the group vowed to ensure his emergence as Governor of the state, reiterating that “it is very necessary for us to rise to the challenge of the moment by declaring our unalloyed support, cooperation and commitment to the process that would lead to Senator Onor’s emergence as Governor of Cross River State come 2023.
“It’s now glaring and obvious to Cross Riverians that the change they yearn for is here, Senator (Prof) Sandy Ojang Onor (Original Caterpillar), the PDP Governorship hopeful and candidate of Cross River State in the upcoming 2023 elections is contesting the 2023 Governorship election in order to add value, end godfatherism and make a difference in Cross River State that has long suffered poor Governance by the incumbent governor of the state” , the group stated.
In a similar vein, another group known as Cross River Youth Vanguard, which comprises youth entrepreneurs, on Saturday, endorsed the Governorship aspiration of Sandy Onor.
Giving reasons for their endorsement, the Group’s leader, Comrade Amaechi Victor, berated the incumbent governor, Ben Ayade of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that his performance was below the expectations of Crossriverians.
According to Amaechi, the victory of Sandy Onor will reposition Cross River State and return it to the path of peace, security, socioeconomic development and sustainable empowerment of people.
Amaechi, in a statement after the group’s Congress held in Calabar, explained that the sterling performance of Senator Sandy had proven that he would develop the state in the aspects of education, healthcare, roads, employment, infrastructure, environment, youth empowerment and agricultural development.
He urged voters to stop lamenting on what he described as the misgovernance of the incumbent government but rally round Senator Onor who is in the race because he has a lot to offer the people of Cross River State.
“The task before Cross Riverians is to come out en masse and liberate Cross River State from the hands of political godfathers and scavengers that have sworn to keep Cross River State undeveloped and highly mis governed. Let’s stop lamenting on the imperfections in our state but find the courage to collectively stand up and be counted in our determination to reposition Cross River State to be the giant that will provide prosperity for all of us and put us in the path of sustainable growth and development”, he said.
Responding, Chief Obi Bisong thanked the group for the visit and declaration of support as he also assured the group of a new and better Cross River State.
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.
