The Senate Session: Senate President Godswill Akpabio publicly claimed he was never a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while lawmakers were honoring late former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris during a plenary session.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• The Interruption: Senator Jibrin Isah had recalled sharing a political history with Akpabio and Idris within the PDP, prompting Akpabio to interrupt and clarify that while his “spirit might be there,” his heart never was and he has “always been a progressive”.

• Contradictory Political Record: Akpabio’s claim contrasts sharply with his documented career, which includes serving as the PDP governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 and chairing the PDP Governors’ Forum.

• Previous Leadership Role: After his governorship, he was elected to the Senate on the PDP platform in 2015, served as the Senate Minority Leader until 2018, and eventually defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in August 2018.

• Dismissal of Disqualification Calls: The Parliament Support Network (PSN) has rejected demands by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) for the disqualification of the APC Rivers State governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Politically Motivated Campaign: PSN National President Maxwell Idoko described the push for Chinda’s removal as a politically motivated attempt to derail his 2027 electoral participation and distract from his compliance with legal requirements.

  • Compliance with Electoral Rules: The group noted that the Rivers APC confirmed Chinda registered as a party member 24 days before the primary, successfully surpassing the 21-day timeline referenced under the interpreted provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

  • Call for INEC Neutrality: PSN urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral, stating that the Supreme Court’s restoration of specific sections of the Electoral Act does not automatically equate to a judicial disqualification of Chinda.

• Meeting in Paris: Billionaire businessman and Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Femi Otedola, met with President Bola Tinubu at a private dinner in Paris, France.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Commendation of Reforms: Otedola disclosed the meeting on social media on Monday, lauding the President’s “bold and forward-thinking reforms” for setting Nigeria on a path of sustainable economic growth.

  • Indicators of Economic Improvement: The businessman cited several positive developments as proof of an improving economy, including the listing of Nigerian firms on the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, gains on the Nigerian Exchange, increased foreign direct investment (FDI), renewed investor confidence, and a rise in foreign reserves to approximately $55bn.

  • Tinubu’s Ongoing European Trip: The dinner follows a series of engagements by President Tinubu in France, including a private dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on September 17 to discuss bilateral relations. Tinubu has been abroad for about a month, initially on a three-week working vacation that was later extended.