Politics
Protesters Storm Wadata Plaza As PDP Power Tussle Continues
The protest came amidst heightened tensions over the anticipated resumption of Sunday Ude-Okoye, the Appeal Court-declared rightful occupant of the position.
The protesters, chanting slogans such as “No vacancy in the National Secretary’s office” and “Senator Sam Anyanwu remains the National Secretary,” besieged the back gate of the PDP’s Wadata Plaza headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
Security at the premises was significantly bolstered, with additional police officers deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
A police truck was stationed outside the main gate, while personnel, in collaboration with PDP security, thoroughly frisked workers and visitors before granting access to the building.
Senator Anyanwu arrived at the PDP national secretariat at around midday to a rousing welcome from his loyal supporters, who had been protesting his ouster as National Secretary.
Upon entering his office, Sen. Anyanwu symbolically sanctified his desk with anointing oil before taking his seat. He then conducted a brief inspection of the secretariat offices before summoning a meeting with staff.
During the meeting, Sen. Anyanwu addressed the ongoing legal dispute surrounding his position.
He outlined the legal complexities of the situation and reassured the staff of his commitment to due process with a declaration that he would quit if the Supreme Court so decides.
He urged them to remain focused and law-abiding amid the party’s internal turmoil.
Following the meeting, the embattled National Secretary released a formal statement addressed to all national officers, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The statement sought to explain his legal standing and justify his continued tenure as National Secretary.
In the statement, Sen. Anyanwu argued that his position as National Secretary remained valid, citing legal provisions.
“Once an application for a stay of execution is filed and pending, it operates as a bar to the execution of the judgment until the application is determined,” he stated, referencing past rulings from the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Sen. Anyanwu asserted that he has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court and submitted an application for a stay of execution, maintaining that his role as National Secretary is legally protected until the court decides otherwise.
He cautioned against any actions that could undermine his position, describing them as unlawful and detrimental to the party’s unity.
Senator Anyanwu was the sole national officer present at the PDP national secretariat on Monday, as other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were conspicuously absent.
He departed the secretariat at approximately 3:30 p.m.
While Sen. Anyanwu insists on his legal right to the position, the party’s official stance remains that the Court of Appeal judgment is binding unless a stay is granted.
In a rebuttal, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, criticised Sen. Anyanwu’s actions, stating that the party had not received any notice of motion for a stay of execution or a court order supporting his claim.
“It’s unfortunate that this drama is unfolding. Resorting to self-help is highly condemnable.
“We have evidence linking Senator Anyanwu to the activities of thugs, including communications and financial transactions. This behaviour undermines the rule of law and tarnishes the party’s image”, Mr Ologunagba said.
The National Publicity Secretary emphasised that the PDP was committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate actions that disrupt its operations.
“This party does not engage in self-help. We follow due process. If a stay of execution is granted, the party will comply. However, as of now, no such order exists”, he added.
He further suggested that external forces may be influencing the crisis, hinting at potential interference by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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.
