Politics
PDP minority caucus asks Buhari to sign electoral act without delay
***Mocks APC over lack of BOT, trying to win FCT council polls by all means
*decries excessive loans, says APC has sold Nigeria to China
The minority caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the National Assembly has demanded that President Muhammadu signed the reworked electoral bill into law without further delay
The Caucus also berated the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) for setting up 133- member campaign committee inclusive of 16 serving governors for the forthcoming Area Councils Election in FCT.
The leader of the caucus who is also the senate minority leader senator Enyinaya Abaribe and his counterpart in the House of representatives Honorable Ndidi Elumelu gave the indication on Tuesday during the caucus meeting with the PDP Board of Trustees.
According to Abaribe, “We are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the electoral act which we have passed. We made sure that everything he complained about we have given it to him.”
“The President in rejecting the earlier one transmitted to him in November last year, said indirect and consensus mode of primary elections were added to the new one as requested by President Buhari .
“Now that we have bent backwards, no any excuse or reason should be given again. Provisions of the bill are very critical for expected credibility of the 2023 general elections ” , he said.
Honorable Elumelu during a vote of thanks alleged that some APC Governors are again plotting to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from assenting to the reworked electoral act.
“They said they wanted direct primaries, we said if it would mean giving Nigeriand a very sound electoral reform we accept, they came back again they said oh we have rejected it. They are the ones rejecting.
“They say okay, they want Indirect we say we agree but give Nigerians electoral reform. They came back again and said they want consensus, we have given them consensus, we have given them consensus again I am hearing that among them, those APC Governors are still plotting for the President not to sign the act
The Clerk to the National Assembly Mr. Olatunde Amos Ojo had on Monday, transmitted the authenticated copies of the Electoral Bill 2022 to President Muhammadu Buhari .
This was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.
Mr. President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on 19th November 2021. The Electoral Bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed same on 25th January 2022.
For constituting 133- member campaign committee inclusive of 16 serving governors for the forthcoming Area Councils Election in FCT Elumelu berated the ruling APC.
“Let me say that, It is disheartening that APC, for just a small council election they have turned it to a battle ground
“Even those who could not win their polling units are finding themselves in FCT instead of administering their States, they have abandoned their states for just FCT council election.”
He reminded the ruling APC that in the last election the president lost his unit in the villa. “So I wonder why all of them are battling to come and take what they know they can never get, the FCT area Council election.”
“Let me also state that we are not like APC. Let me thank the BOT for finding it worthy to come and interact with us. We can never be like them. “They have promised
Nigerians so many things: N1 to $1 today it is N596 to a Dollar. They have Promised Nigeria that farmers would be able to go to farm and produce good food for us.
“Today no farmer to go to the various farms because of insecurity. They have promised Nigerians that they will give us good roads but today go to the Airport you see crowds because we don’t have good roads.
“The legacy left by PDP government is still what we are enjoying today because of failed promises by APC. “They are trying to mugage the future of our children by trying to get China to colonise us. Loan, Loan, Loan. APC is known for loan taking and that is very bad.
“The PDP BOT coming here to interact with us is something that a focused party can do. APC can’t do it, they set out to elect State officers they succeeded in electing 92 chairmen.
“They have not reconciled them in 36 States plus FCT and they said they are going to do convention. Let me take Kano for example, Ganduje is leading some, Shelarau is
leading some so I wonder which people are coming for the convention.
“It is going to be another promise like N$ to N1 and we can go on and on, we are not like them who will go to United Nation and lie that they have built specialists hospitals in 36 States, you know that it is a lie. “But for the President of Nigeria to get there and say such a thing, it is a big shame. We can also go on and on and we will not leave here.
“Let me tell the BOT that the two chambers PDP caucuses are doing very well
“Nigerians are tired of APC, so for coming here we are proud of you people. Your coming has further energized us to know that we are doing the right thing and we will never let you people down
He however sent a strong message to the PDP not to impose candidates
“Please tell our party, that this is the time that we should imbibe true democracy and there must be transparency in all the primaries that we are going to organise, let the popular people be chosen.
“The issue of imposition should be shunned by our party. This is what my colleagues asked me to tell you.”
As the PDP caucus were holding a meeting with it’s BOT, the APC caucus also met but in closed door.
When their meeting ended they failed to address the media
After a series of delays, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Rivers State has finally held its much-anticipated meeting with the Sole Administrator of the state, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas.
The meeting, which took place in Abuja, comes as the House exercises its constitutional powers to assume the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following the ongoing political crisis in the state.
In his opening remarks, Vice Admiral Ibas apologised for his inability to attend earlier scheduled meetings, citing the need for more time to settle into his new role.
READ ALSO: Ibas Makes First Appearance At NEC Meeting As Rivers Sole Administrator
He told the committee that he is still acclimatising to the demands of his position and appealed for the lawmakers’ understanding as he prepares to provide a detailed briefing.
Shortly after his plea, the session went into a closed-door meeting, with journalists and observers asked to leave.
More to follow………….
Deji Adeyanju, a Nigerian activist and lawyer, has made explosive claims regarding the 2023 presidential election, suggesting that former Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso secretly supported President Bola Tinubu’s campaign.
In a post shared on his 𝕏 page Thursday, Adeyanju contended that Obi, who ran against Tinubu, would likely continue to support the president in future political endeavors.
He expressed certainty that Obi would decline any efforts to form a coalition aimed at challenging Tinubu in the next election.
READ ALSO: Lad Who Stood In Front Of Obi’s Convoy Apprehended For Street Fighting – Police
“I’m 100% convinced that Obi worked for Tinubu in 2023 and will do so again. I might be wrong, but I’m convinced in my mind about this,” Adeyanju wrote.
“Once a businessman, always a businessman. Those still in doubt will see the clear handwriting before 2027. He will refuse to join the coalition,” he continued.
Additionally, Adeyanju accused Kwankwaso of working in favor of Tinubu during the previous election.
He emphasized that for any opposition coalition to succeed in the 2027 race, figures like Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—another presidential hopeful—must step aside.
“For the coalition to succeed, all the self-centered politicians like Atiku & Obi should promise not to run and allow neutral folks to run against Tinubu,” Adeyanju proposed. “This is how to put the interest of the nation above personal interest,” he added.
The activist went on to criticize the culture surrounding Nigerian politics, describing it as an industry driven by opportunism.
He lamented the presence of “merchants” surrounding top politicians, accusing them of putting personal gain ahead of the country’s well-being. “The biggest industry in Africa is politics,” Adeyanju said.
“And those around popular politicians are all merchants. Once politics is around the corner, they are in business. Con men and women who just want to cash out.”
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, attended his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ibas was appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in March 2025.
READ MORE: Tinubu Swears In Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator
The NEC meeting, which is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gathered a number of state governors and deputy governors from across the 36 states of Nigeria to discuss important national economic issues.
Among the notable figures in attendance was Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Governor Oborevwori led the opening prayers at the meeting on the instruction of Vice President Shettima.
Other state governors present included Rev. Fr. Hycinth Alia of Benue State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River, along with several deputy governors.
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