POLITICS
2023: Hope 23 Women Wing to Embark on Door to Door Campaign
By Jude Opara, Abuja
In a move to ensure the emergence of their candidate as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Hope 23 Women wing has said it would embark on a day to day campaign to make the aspiration of Governor Yahaya Bello.
Bello who is the governor of Kogi state is among the presidential aspirants struggling to take over from President Muhammmadu Buhari next year.
Director, Women Mobilization of the Hope 23, Yahaya Bello Campaign Organization, Zara Gift Onyinye who spoke after a courtesy call on the National Women Leader, Dr.
Betta Edu said they were at the National Secretariat of the party to congratulate the chairman and the National Women Leader on their election at the national convention of the party last month.They also said they had come to solicit for support for their aspirant in the coming presidential race.
Onyinye said they group decided to throw its weight behind Gov. Bello because of his support for women. She added that his chances are very bright because women form a huge part of the delegates that would vote at the primary election.
“They’re just like we’ve been saying and we’ve numerated earlier on, a candidate who supports a woman will definitely stand the chance of winning this election because women form the highest number of voters and across Nigeria and they also know that if they support that person, that person who has shown that he has the women in his heart, he has love for women, he creates enabling environment for women, he gave them that opportunity to sell and that person is Yahaya Bello and all the women have shown that he have indicated interest as the person who supported them, that same person they’re going to support and so that stands him out of all the aspirants going for this election.
“The other one is for the youth. Yahaya Bello is a youth, as we all know, and if you check all his appointees in Kogi state, I can say that 95% of them are all youth of Nigeria, and I know they will support him.
“You can hear the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), working with her governor; she was able to ensure that women were made Directors-General, heads of parastatals and they made a difference. We want to thank you all for your support to the governor. He is a great man.
In her remarks, the National Women Leader of the APC, Dr. Betta Edu said the party would be ready to support any aspirant that emerges as the candidate of the party.
Dr. Edu also expressed confidence that the calibre of aspirants coming from the party all have what it takes to govern the country.
“There is one very beautiful thing I love about APC. The aspirants that are coming out for the presidential ticket in APC are well qualified. They are high above and are far above board. I have not seen one that is not good.
“Now as a party, our party will come together under the leadership of the President, Muhamadu Buhari and of course the national chairman and other leadership structures of our party to decide on whom will be the candidates of our dear party.
“Before that decision is made, something requires time that we must do immediately. If indeed you are supporting a candidate in APC, you are supporting Governor Yahaya Bello, you must go out now and begin the door to door mobilization for registration. Go door to door and begin the campaign for voter registration.
“The APC women’s wing will be coming on out, will be going to states to mobilize women to go and register remember. If they don’t have their voters card our work is useless even if they give any of our aspirants the tickets it will not amount to (victory). So we must take our time now door to door.
“But one thing is certain APC will not give its ticket to a presidential candidate who will not favour women. We know our President and all the glass ceilings he has broken. You know our party chairman and all the glass ceilings he has broken for women by giving us free forms”.
The National Women Leader also promised to continue to engage all the state governors to appeal to them to encourage more female representatives at the National Assembly.
In her contribution, the SSG, Folashade Arike said they were at the party secretariat to congratulate the National Women Leader and to also assure her of the support of all the women in the Yahaya Bello support group.
“I need to just let you know of the fact that Yahaya Bello loves women, he gives us a place of honour. In Kogi state as we stand from 2016 to date, I have been the SSG a woman. Not just that, the Head of Service has been a woman. We have a pioneer pension commission, His Excellency say let me put a woman, DG.
“All the 21 local government areas all the vice chairman are women. We have six institutions, three of them (leaders) are women.
“I need to let you know that His Excellency loves to put women in places of honour. He likes to give us relevance”.
The APC is expected to begin the sale of nomination forms after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which holds today in Abuja.
POLITICS
Presidency Transmits N43.5trn 2026 Appropriation Bill to Reps
President Bola Tinubu yesterday, transmitted the appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2024/2025 bill to the House of Representatives for consideration and expected approval in accordance with constitutional and appropriation process.
Reading the letter during plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Rep.
Benjamin Kalu said that the appropriation bill is aimed at ending the practice of running multiple budgets concurrently.“Rt Honourable Speaker, the Bill seeks to authorize the issue from the consolidated Revenue fund of the federation of the total sum of N43,561,041,744,507.
“Comprising N1,742,786,788,150 for statutory transfers, N8,270,960,606,831 for debt service, N11,268,513,380,853 for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure and N22,278,780,968,673 for capital expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2025,” the President said.
According to the President, the bill provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded appropriation mechanism.
President Tinubu in the letter said that the appropriation is not only critical but time-sensitive expenditures necessary in advancing the well-being of Nigerians.
He further explained that the bill seeks to strengthen implementation discipline and accountability by requiring that appropriated funds are applied strictly for purposes specified in the schedules.
The House however adjourned to Thursday being 18, Dec for further consideration of the Bill.
POLITICS
2027 Election: Igbo’s Community Promises Votes for Eno
From Christopher Tom, Uyo
Non-indigence in Akwa Ibom State especially the Igbo’s community has promised to give the highest number of votes across the state to Governor Umo Eno come 2027 governorship elections in the state.
The Igbo community said they will not fail to vote massively for the Governor.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Hon.
Keyceey Chidiadi made this known while speaking with media practitioners shortly after the Uyo chapter of Igbo community unity day celebration 2025 in Uyo.He said Igbo’s scattered across the 31 local government Area of the state without any doubt seriously doing their businesses without any crisis, showcasing their love, unity among the indigence of the state while also contributing their quotas to boost the state economy.
According to him, the Igbo’s are about five thousand while some have not been recorded because they have not identified with the community and advise others to join the train before it’s too late for them.
He said their vote come 2027 is massively for Pastor Umo Eno without compromise because of his leadership style and developmental strive, showcasing true democracy carrying every individual along not minding the state or religion the people came from but stand on peace, unity among the people to benefit the dividend of democracy.
He called on Igbo’s resident in the state to make sure they vote here without going to their various states to maintain their voting strength as the highest numbers of people across the non-indigence communities in Akwa Ibom State.
He said they are law abiding citizens and not ready to accommodate or entertain any crisis, violence, because of their peaceful nature created by God, especially respect for the government of the day while corporate to preach peace in the state. He commended the community for embracing peace after 27 years of crisis without a leader among them, but now peace has restored to them across the communities in the state.
POLITICS
INEC Begins Display of Preliminary Voter Register in Delta
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Delta State Office, has announced the commencement of the display of the Preliminary Voter Register for claims and objections across the state.
According to a press release by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Udo Umoren, the exercise will begin on Monday, 15th December 2025 and end on Sunday, 21st December 2025.
The display will take place at all the 25 Local Government Area offices of INEC in Delta State between 9:00am and 3:00pm daily.
INEC explained that the exercise is in line with the Electoral Guidelines and is aimed at correcting any anomalies that may have occurred during the recent voter registration exercise.
The Commission noted that the process is essential to producing a credible and reliable voter register, which remains a key instrument for conducting free, fair and credible elections.
The Commission urged eligible voters in the state to seize the opportunity to visit INEC offices in their respective local government areas to confirm that their names and personal details are correctly captured in the register. Voters were also encouraged to report cases of omission, errors in spelling, or any other discrepancies.
In addition, members of the public were advised to raise objections to the inclusion of names of deceased persons, underaged individuals, or any other doubtful entries found in the register.
INEC reiterated its commitment to electoral integrity and called on all Deltans to actively participate in the exercise as part of their civic responsibility.
The Commission concluded the notice with a call to action, encouraging eligible citizens to register and participate in the electoral process.

