The Labour Party (LP) faction loyal to Julius Abure on Tuesday pushed ahead with its nationwide ward congresses in all states except Abia, describing the turnout as “impressive” and the process “smooth,” even as a court injunction secured by Governor Alex Otti’s faction remained in force.

Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC), said supervision teams across the country reported positively on the exercise and reiterated the party’s commitment to strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He explained the schedule:

Ward Congresses: Tuesday, 2 December

Local Government Congresses: Thursday, 4 December

State Congresses: Saturday, 6 December

Abia State was excluded after an Abia State High Court temporarily halted the congresses pending the resolution of a suit challenging the state leadership.

Ifoh insisted the Abure faction was complying, even as its legal team works to have the order vacated.

Ifoh emphasized that the November 28 NEC meeting, attended by INEC officials, had resolved to democratize party leadership nationwide in accordance with electoral laws.

He urged Nigerians to support the party in its efforts to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 polls.

The spokesman also warned against internal sabotage, accusing unnamed actors of fomenting chaos and circulating false reports about a nationwide suspension of congresses.

“Publishing fake news that a court has cancelled Labour Party congresses nationwide is a crime and can attract dire consequences,” he said, warning those spreading misinformation to desist.

The Abure faction maintains that it is determined to move the party forward and will continue its congresses, leaving behind anyone unwilling to align with the process.

The current developments follow the Abia State High Court injunction obtained by the Otti faction on November 26 (Suit No. HIN/47/2025), which restrains Abure and his NWC from conducting purported ward, local government, and state congresses.

The Abure camp has dismissed the claim, arguing that the order applies only to Abia State.

The ongoing dispute comes amid a wider internal struggle, with the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Interim NWC recently submitting a 34-member leadership list to INEC, claiming it supersedes previous submissions by both factions.

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Tuesday presented a record N1.62 trillion 2026 budget to the Enugu State House of Assembly, describing it as the “Budget of Renewed Momentum.”

The budget marks a 66.5% increase over the revised 2025 budget of N971 billion and reflects the administration’s shift from laying foundations to scaling transformation across all sectors.

Dubbed the Budget of Renewed Momentum, it comprises a Capital Expenditure of N1,296,092,465,000 (80% of the total) and a Recurrent Component of N321,305,000,000 (20%), totaling N1,617,397,465,000.

Governor Mbah said the budget would be funded through N870 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), N387 billion from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and N329 billion in Capital Receipts.

Sectoral Allocations

• Economic Sector: N825.9 billion (51%)
• Social Sector: N644.7 billion (40.1%)
• Administration: N128 billion
• Justice: N15.8 billion
• Regional Development: N2 billion

“Allocating N825.9 billion to the Economic Sector is strategic and deliberate. When we invest in agriculture, industry, and trade, we create jobs, reduce poverty, and generate revenue that strengthens the entire economy.”

“The performance of this sector remains central to our vision of achieving a seven-fold GDP growth in Enugu State,” the governor explained.

Key Projects and Initiatives

Infrastructure & Roads:

• Construction of 1,200 urban roads and additional rural roads
• Completion of the 40-kilometre Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem dual carriageway
• Dualisation of Abakpa Nike–Ugwogo Nike–Ekwegbe–Opi-Nsukka Road
• Completion of the 21.65-kilometre Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway

Transportation:

• Acquisition of 14 additional aircraft to expand Enugu Air’s fleet to 20, with three arriving before the end of 2025
• Construction of five new transport terminals in Emene, Udi, Awgu, Four-Corners (Ozalla), and Obollo-Afor

Housing:

• 15% of the budget earmarked for 15,000 mass housing units
• Continued development of New Enugu City

Agriculture:

• Construction of 20-hectare Farm Estates in all 260 wards of the state, some already underway

Social Sector:

• Education receives 32.27% of the total budget, continuing the pattern of previous years
• Focus on Smart Secondary Schools and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Colleges
  “There are some, who might look at what we spend on education and cringe. But what we spend currently on education is largely insignificant weighed against the future social cost of having a disproportionate population of out-of-school children,” he explained.

Other Priorities:

• Gratuities: N20 billion allocated to clear longstanding staff entitlements
• Security: N11 billion for the second phase of the administration’s surveillance system
• Health: 10% of total budget

On 2025 budget execution, Governor Mbah said:
“This means that we utilized 97.5 per cent of all the money that came into the state and achieved 83 per cent of the total budget implementation as against the revised budget of N871 billion.”

He added on revenue performance:
“The money coming into Enugu State has grown in ways we have never seen before. Our internally generated revenue is set to exceed ₦400 billion by the end of the year. It is not yet where we ultimately want to be, but it is already the highest IGR in the history of Enugu State – a 221.6% increase over 2024.”

He also commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies:
“Our FAAC inflow did not just meet expectations – it exceeded them by more than half. We projected about ₦150 billion but we received ₦230 billion – over 50 per cent above projection. This is not accidental. It reflects the impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold economic reforms.”

“The removal of fuel subsidies, unification of foreign exchange rate and other fiscal measures have strengthened key macro indicators – inflation has declined and continues to trend downwardly, interest rates have eased, and the exchange rate has stabilised. And our foreign reserve has continued to be strengthened, and recently hit the $46 billion mark.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally issued expulsion certificates to several high-profile members, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The move follows the party’s national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, where their expulsions were ratified over alleged anti-party activities.

The certificates were presented at a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, during which Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum officially handed over the leadership of the PDP to Senator Kabiru Turaki.

Speaking after the meeting, Turaki explained that the certificates were meant to clarify the status of the expelled members under Nigerian law, which prohibits dual party membership.

“Now that these individuals have been expelled by the National Convention, we have issued certificates of expulsion so they can show proof to other political parties that they are no longer members of the PDP,” Turaki said.

The certificates have been sent to the affected members, which include Nyesom Wike, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade (SAN), Abdurahman Muhammad, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna, George Turna, and Chief Dan Orbih.

Turaki added that the certification would inform Nigerians and relevant institutions including INEC, the police, and other security agencies of the expelled members’ status.

He warned that anyone interacting with these individuals does so “at their own risk.”

“We hope PDP members in Nigeria and the diaspora understand that the party has once again removed elements that have been disrupting our activities. Our focus now is on rebuilding and preparing to provide credible leadership for 2027,” Turaki stated.

The expulsions remain controversial, as they came amid ongoing legal disputes over state congresses.

A Wike-loyal faction, led by former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu and factional Chairman Mohammed Abdulrahman, rejected the Ibadan convention as illegitimate.

This faction held a parallel NWC meeting in Abuja on November 18, where they also announced the expulsion of some party leaders, including Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), former Board of Trustees Chair Adolphus Wabara, Turaki himself, and Chief Bode George.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has raised alarm over the withdrawal of police personnel from the security detail of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing it as a deliberate attempt to expose him to danger.

Frank made the allegation in a statement on Tuesday, reacting to the recent directive by President Bola Tinubu ordering police officers attached to VIPs across the country to return to their primary policing duties.

The directive, issued on November 23, led to the withdrawal of officers assigned to several high-profile individuals, including Atiku, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former First Lady Aisha Buhari, and 17 others.

According to Frank, the move is unprecedented and suspicious, especially considering Atiku’s long-standing role as a key opposition figure.

“No administration since 2007 has ever tampered with Atiku Abubakar’s security,” he argued.

“Why now, at a time when insecurity is rising nationwide? This action clearly reveals an ulterior motive.”

He alleged that the withdrawal was part of a broader scheme to “isolate and eliminate” Atiku ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the former vice president is legally entitled to police protection.

Frank also accused President Tinubu of following a troubling political pattern he claims has taken root in parts of Africa, where leaders use state institutions to intimidate or suppress opposition politicians.

He argued that the removal of Atiku’s security is a continuation of this alleged trend.

“President Tinubu is now towing the same path where incumbents silence their critics using state power.”

“Atiku has consistently spoken about the failures of this administration, and this action is nothing short of political persecution,” he said.

Frank further alleged ethnic bias in recent security appointments, claiming the President is positioning loyalists to carry out “political assignments.”

He challenged the administration to extend the security withdrawal to the President’s associates, family members, and appointees if the directive was truly neutral.

Atiku, who has contested for the presidency multiple times since leaving office in 2007, has not formally declared interest in the 2027 race, though speculations continue regarding his political future.