Politics
APC Swears In New NWC Members Amid Protests
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially sworn in the six additional officers into the National Working Committee (NWC) despite strong opposition from the chapters of the party in Kogi, Abia and Cross River States.
The one-hour inauguration, which was conducted by the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, was done at the national headquarters of the party at about 8.45 pm on Friday.
The development came in the wake of protests by the aggrieved Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; former Senator for Cross River South District and Abia APC who labelled the election of the officers as an imposition as against the names of nominees they submitted to the ruling party.
While Bello contested the choice of Duro Meseko as against Yahaya Ismail for the position of Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Ita-Giwa and Cross River APC Chairman, Adolphus Ogar demanded the National Women Leader be given to Dr Stella Odey-Ekpo.
The Abia APC Caucus, on the other hand, appealed to the leadership of the ruling party not to consider swearing in Donatus Nwankpa as National Welfare Secretary, claiming that he wasn’t their preferred choice.
But following a marathon meeting with all the aggrieved parties at his residence on Thursday, Ganduje went ahead with the inauguration ceremony on Friday night with a Notary Public, Mustapha Abubakar, administering the oaths of office and allegiance on the new NWC members.
The new officers who took oath of office included Deputy National Chairman for North, Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno State); National Vice Chairman for North- West, Garba Datti Muhammad (Kaduna); National Legal Adviser, Prof. AbdulKarim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa); National Welfare Secretary, Donatus Nwakpa (Abia); National Woman Leader, Mary Alile Idele, PhD (Edo); and, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko (Kogi).
Bello’s two nominees Ikani Shuaibu Okolo earlier pencilled for the North-Central Zonal Organising Secretary and Ismail Yahaya nominated for the position of Deputy National Publicity Secretary were however dropped.
Addressing the audience after the oath of office was administered, Ganduje pleaded for unity and understanding of all the APC members and supporters.
While stating that the complaints from Kogi, Abia and Cross River states had been acknowledged, he pledged that the candidates who were dropped would be considered for other appointments in fairness to all.
The former Kano governor also disclosed that arrangements were in top gear to inaugurate individual campaign councils ahead of the governorship elections slated for November 11 in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.
He said; “We consulted with stakeholders, governors and others. We know there are some aggrieved people and they are very important. We will discuss with them and I will speak later on that. All of you are competent. We have seen your credentials and you have been nominated and elected through due process by the various stakeholders and therefore we congratulate you.”
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.
-
Politics4 days agoPDP Vows Legal Action Against Rivers Lawmakers Over Defection
-
Politics5 days agoWhy Reno Omokri Should Be Dropped From Ambassadorial List – Arabambi
-
Sports4 days agoNigeria, Egypt friendly Hold Dec 16
-
Sports4 days agoNSC hails S’Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong
-
Politics4 days agoRIVERS PEOPLE REACT AS 17 PDP STATE LAWMAKERS MOVE TO APC
-
Oil & Energy4 days agoNCDMB Unveils $100m Equity Investment Scheme, Says Nigerian Content Hits 61% In 2025 ………As Board Plans Technology Challenge, Research and Development Fair In 2026
-
Politics4 days agoWithdraw Ambassadorial List, It Lacks Federal Character, Ndume Tells Tinubu
-
Sports4 days agoFRSC Wins 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League