Politics
Don’t Let Anyone Deceive You, PDP Chairman Tells Returnees
As more members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, continue to return to the PDP in Rivers State, Chairman of the ruling party in the state, Ambassador Desmond Akawor has advised the returnees to be loyal, committed and avoid double standards in order to be taken seriously in the party.
Addressing a group of returnees from Tai Local Government Area, under the aegis of Tai Rebirth Convention led by a former Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Hon Greg Barile Nwidam, at the State Party Secretariat Aba Road, Port Harcourt, last week, Ambassador Akawor told them that people who play double standard are always not taken seriously in society.
He advised those still sitting on the fence to emulate those who have already taken the bull by the horn by returning to the PDP, assuring that those who have returned to the Party would have no cause to regret as they would be properly integrated into the system.
Ambassador Akawor who said he was happy that new members were joining the Party on a daily basis, noted that everyone was elated by the development.
“All of you who have come back today will not have any cause to regret. There is no member of the party that will not be happy if they have members from the other party coming back. I thank all of you for coming back to your party. You are coming at the right time when a new government is about to be formed”, he said.
He assured that the leadership of the party would ensure that everyone was brought together and given a sense of belonging.
Citing the case of the Biblical Prodigal Son, he said everyone who returned to the Party would be received with great joy.
The PDP Chairman also advised them not to listen to gossips but evaluate every information in order to decipher the truth from rumours.
Welcoming them on behalf of the leader of the party and Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, Ambassador Desmond Akawor said a proper reception would be organized for them and thanked Hon Greg Nwidam for bringing them back to the Party.
Earlier, the leader of the group and former Chairman of Khana Local Government Council, Hon. Greg Nwidam, said he decided to bring some of those who left the APC with him from Tai to the PDP Chairman, adding that those from other Ogoni Local Government Areas would be introduced later.
Hon. Nwidam said they were prepared to work with the PDP in Rivers State to form the next government in 2023 and requested for proper integration, adding that they were back to add value to the Party.
Other speakers such as Hon Jolly Ngbor, and Kenule Amanikpo said they were back to work for the party but asked that they should not be forgotten in the scheme of things.
Present at the meeting were the Deputy State Chairman of the Party, Hon Chukwuemeka Aaron, the State Secretary ,Dr Benibo George, the Treasurer, Mrs Blessing Amadi and the State Publicity Secretary, Hon Sydney Tambari Gbara.
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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