Politics
Rivers Re-run Elections: CTC Chairman, Others Decry Hitches
The Caretaker Committee
Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Sir Sunny Samuel Ejekwu has expressed disappointment over the last Saturday’s re-run election in the area, stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission was not properly prepared for the election despite its promises.
Ejekwu who was at the INEC headquarters on Saturday to register complains over late arrival of materials in some Wards in his Local Government Area noted that as at 2.00pm some polling units had not received electoral materials.
“I have my doubts that INEC was prepared for the election because as at 2pm, some units just had materials. Ioabuchi and Sacred Heart areas received materials late, and the University of Science and Technology (UST) Areas were yet to get material as at 2pm.
‘’ If INEC was properly prepared, I wonder why an election that was supposed to begin by 8am could not commence till 2pm. Voting ought to have ended by 2pm. What is the guarantee that people will not be disfranchised’’, he querried.
He expressed disappointment over the process, noting that if logistics were put right, even the materials should have gotten to the polling units not later than 10am.
He however, advised that INEC should put their acts together subsequently and get Nigeria out of this nightmare.
Also speaking, Hon Chinyere Igwe said election was calm in his Ward and Units and denied any irregularities. Adding that as at 1.45pm, things were going on smoothly, without violence.
Chief Ogbams Ojimah said voting went on smoothly in Ward 2 in the Port Harcourt City Local Government, but regretted that materials came late.
The Tide learnt that the Collation Officer in Ward 2 did not show up till 9.pm.
Barrister Clifford Oparaodu who was at the collation centre, said the area was peaceful but the collation officer disappeared and did not show up.
He noted that despite the provocation, the people were able to maintain peaceful atmosphere and patiently waited for the collation officer.
According to him ’’Election in Port Harcourt is always peaceful. It has never been known to be violent and each time we have elections here it goes on peacefully, even if there are instances that would have caused provocations which may have led to crisis and violence, they are properly handled’’.
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.
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