Politics
10th NASS Leadership Tussle: Reps, Senate To Probe NDDC Over 1.4 Trillion Deal, May Consume Akpabio
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
The leadership crisis rocking the National Assembly on zoning may worsen in no distance days as both the Senate and House of Representatives are warming up to probe an alleged unappropriated 1.4 trillion expenditure embarked upon by the Niger Delta Development Commission under Senate Godswill Akpabio’s watch.
Senate President Lawan, had last week, set up a seven-member ad-hoc committee to probe the NDDC for embarking on expenditure amounting to N1.4 trillion without appropriation.
The move is seen by many as one to derail Akpabio’s ambition to be Senate president.
The decision to probe activities of the NDDC followed a motion by Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi) during consideration of a report by the Committee on Niger Delta on NDDC’s 2021, 2022 and 2023 budgets.
READ ALSO: 10th NASS Speakership: Don’t Expect Us To Be Loyal If Your Preferred Choice Stands – G7 Tells APC
President Muhammadu Buhari had, earlier this year, asked the Senate to approve NDDC’s budgets for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Speaking on this, a source in the lower chamber, disclosed that: “Two major issues are likely to be burning issues, which are the possible probe of the House Committee Chairman on NDDC, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, who is alleged to be part of the grand deals to impoverish the NDDC and the vexatious issue of unapproved amendments to our Standing Rules.
“We are following them up wherever they go and whatever they do. If the Senators can compromise and cave in to the pressure from Tinubu’s people, that is their problem. We belong to the lower chamber and I especially belong to the opposition. So, I’m not bothered about whatever they do.
“They are doing everything possible to stop the probe because it is a very strong booby trap that can consume Akpabio. They know it and that is why they are trying hard to stop others from aspiring to become the Senate president.
READ ALSO: Tinubu: Oshiomhole Speaks On 10th Senate
“For the House of Representatives, they know how stubborn we are and they know too that whoever is speaker will unravel all that had transpired in the NDDC especially as their boy, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is the chairman.
“So, the best thing, in their thinking, is to stop Wase, Betara, Soli, Jaji and Gadgi. They know Abbas, as their puppet, cannot allow such probe. Is that good for the people of the Niger Delta region where I hail from?
“How would they want me to be happy and join them to commit this havoc against my people and expect me to support their candidate who will do their bidding? They all know these issues so they have to work hard but the day of inauguration will show a different House of Representatives.
“All those signatures are political survival moves, we have done it so it doesn’t matter how many they gather because in 2015, we got more than 200 yet Gbaja lost, he scored less than 170.
“And because they know members will be very independent on the day of inauguration, Gbaja and his boys have gone ahead to insert open ballot by shouting the names of our preferred choice for speaker as if we are babies.
“On that one, we shall wait and see what happens tomorrow (today) on the floor of the House. We will check our proceedings and once we confirm any point of perjury and forgery, Nigerians will hear from us.”
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Politics
FULL LIST: APC Sweeps Rivers Elections, Wins 20 Of 23 LGAs
Published
19 hours agoon
August 31, 2025By
Editor
The All Progressives Congress has emerged victorious in a landslide victory in the Saturday Rivers State local government elections, securing 20 out of the 23 LGAs.
According to The PUNCH, the Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Michael Odey, announced the results at the commission’s Headquarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt on Sunday afternoon.
According to Odey, the Peoples Democratic Party managed to clinch the remaining three LGAs.
The full list of chairpersons-elect is as follows:
READ ALSO:Group Fumes As Rivers CJ Inaugurates LG Poll Tribunal
1. Abua/Odual: Ofori Owolabi (APC)
2. Ahoada East: Solomon Achoma (APC)
3. Ahoada West: Eugene Epelle (APC)
4. Akuku Toru: Bob Fubara (APC)
5. Andoni: Lucky Promise (APC)
6. Asari Toru: George Onegiyeofori (APC)
7. Bonny: Abinye Blessing Pepple (APC)
8. Degema: Michael John Williams (APC)
9. Eleme: Obarilomate Ollor (APC)
10. Emohua: Chidi Loyd (APC)
11. Etche: Njoku Boniface (APC)
12. Gokana: Dekor Confidence (APC)
READ ALSO:Wike Gives Update On Rivers Emergency Rule Expires Date
13. Ikwerre: Charles Wobodo (APC)
14. Khana: Bariere Thomas (APC)
15. Obio/Akpor: Gift Worlu (PDP)
16. Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni: Shedrach Ogbogu (PDP)
17. Ogu/Bolo: Vincent Nemioboka (APC)
18. Okrika: Akuro Tobin (APC)
19. Omuma: Obasi Uchechwuku (APC)
20. Opobo/Nkoro: James A. James (APC)
21. Oyigbo: Okechukwu Akara (APC)
22. PHALGA: Allwell Ihunda (PDP)
23. Tai: Mbakpone Okpe (APC)
The RSIEC Chairman also disclosed that certificates of return will be presented to the winners on Monday, September 1.
This election marks the first time the APC has gained such dominance in Rivers State since the return of democracy in 1999.
Politics
Keyamo Warns PDP Against Fielding Jonathan, Obi In 2027
Published
19 hours agoon
August 31, 2025By
Editor
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party risks serious setbacks in its 2027 presidential strategy if it opts for former President Goodluck Jonathan or ex-Anambra governor Peter Obi as its standard-bearer.
In a long post on his X account on Sunday, Keyamo said the opposition party remains in a “non-enviable position” after failing to zone its 2023 ticket to the South, a decision he said cost the PDP support in its traditional strongholds in the South-South and South-East.
Keyamo argued that nominating Jonathan carries a constitutional danger tied to section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he suggested could bar anyone sworn in twice as president from contesting again.
“If he is fielded, the Party runs the RISK of NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE AT ALL,” Keyamo wrote, warning that such a legal challenge would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.
READ ALSO:APC Mocks Jonathan As ADC Woos Him For 2027 Race
“The constitutional amendment was made AFTER the court judgment which cleared him (Jonathan) to run in 2015, so nothing is decided yet on that new amendment, hence I use the word ‘RISK’ advisedly. All the arguments as to whether the section can be interpreted to affect him will not be decided on Social Media, but at the Supreme Court.
“If he is barred from running AFTER nominations have closed and the PDP is declared as having no candidate, nobody should scream ‘judiciary is corrupt’ because such a large party saw the judicial danger ahead and deliberately ignored it.”
He added that the party would bear responsibility if it ignored the legal risk and lost its candidacy after nominations closed.
“All the arguments … will not be decided on social media, but at the Supreme Court,” he said.
Keyamo also dismissed the likelihood of a successful South-West flagbearer for the PDP.
READ ALSO:Jonathan, Obi Can’t Match APC’s Strength For 2027 – Mustapha Salihu
“If the PDP decides to field its most attractive S/West candidate, no other region of the country will vote for a fresh Yoruba candidate who would be eligible for a fresh two terms in office.
“And that candidate will battle with the well-oiled APC structures in the S/West. You need a majority of at least 3 to 4 regions in Nigeria to win the Presidency.”
On Peter Obi, the minister said bringing the former Labour Party candidate into the PDP fold would not solve the party’s problems.
He suggested doubts about Obi’s credibility, plus his past one-term pledge, could dilute support among his core followers.
READ ALSO:Stolen Jewellery: Patience Jonathan Ex-aides’ Lawyer Laments As Adjournment Hits 42
“The principled ones amongst the ‘obidients’ will see him as going back to his vomit … and may not be too vociferous in their support anymore,” Keyamo wrote.
Concluding his assessment, the minister blamed the PDP’s current predicament on what he called its “original sin” of not zoning the 2023 ticket to the South.
“The young social media warriors may lampoon anyone talking about these zoning sentiments, but that is the REALITY of our politics,” he said, adding that unless “something EXTRAORDINARY happens, the Party may have to wait till 2031.”
The PDP has not publicly responded to Keyamo’s comments.
Politics
Ex-Tinubu Campaign Coordinator Resigns From APC
Published
20 hours agoon
August 31, 2025By
Editor
The former Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign Coordinator in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa has confirmed his resignation from the All Progressives Congress.
Marafa, who confirmed his registration to Channels Television via text message on Sunday, left the ruling party after a meeting with his political structure last Wednesday and Thursday.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders of the group unanimously resolved to dump the APC over what they described as injustice, neglect, and worsening insecurity in Zamfara State.
READ ALSO:Tinubu Signs Direct Flight, Other Agreements With Brazil
They expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation, citing recent statistics that placed Zamfara as the state with the highest number of kidnapping cases in the country.
The group also accused the Federal Government of politicising insecurity during the recent Kaura Namoda bye-election, alleging that security forces were deployed to secure the APC’s electoral victory rather than protect lives.
“The entire structure with all its supporters hereby formally resigns from the All Progressives Congress in protest against the sustained injustice, mistrust, marginalisation, and deliberate neglect of Zamfara State and its people. We shall, in due course, announce our next political direction, guided by the collective interest of the good people of Zamfara State,” the communiqué, issued on Friday, partly read.
READ ALSO:Tinubu Subsidises Kidney Dialysis Cost By 76% In Federal Hospitals
On political appointments, Marafa’s loyalists faulted what they termed the deliberate marginalisation of Zamfara, despite the state’s contribution to the APC’s 2023 presidential victory.
They noted that while other states in the North-West secured multiple ministerial slots, Zamfara got only one, and communities devastated by banditry attacks have received little or no federal intervention.
The statement, signed by Comrade Bashir Muhammad Mafara (Chairman) and Dr. Mannir Bature Tsafe (Secretary), added that the group will soon announce its next political direction in line with the aspirations of the Zamfara people.
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