• Senator Barau Jibrin

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has declared his readiness to serve as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election, if the president desired it.

Barau had earlier in the week condemned calls for him to be Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 by some group, saying it was bad politics and inauspicious.

Thus, his new position followed recent agitation by a northern political group calling on Tinubu to consider replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima in the next election cycle.

Responding, Barau distanced himself from the group but expressed gratitude for the confidence they reposed in him.

But speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday, Barau said he owed his political rise to Tinubu and would do “whatever he asks” as a matter of principle and loyalty.

“Whatever the president tells me to do, I will do. I’m loyal to him 100%. If he says I should be his running mate, I will say, ‘Thank you, sir,’ and I will do it,” he said.

• Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue State.

A former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam has declared that he will likely quit the PDP if the wranglings rocking the party is not resolved.

The ex-governor said there’s a possibility that he would dump the party, where he served as a two-term governor and senator for an alternative party.

Suswam’s comment followed PDP’s fresh conflict after Samuel Anyanwu was reinstated as the party’s national publicity secretary.

However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party is not pleased with the development as the party leaders blasted Umar Damagum, the party’s Acting National Chairman, for Anyanwu’s reinstatement.

The NWC., in a statement released on Wednesday, accused Damagum of making statements and taking actions that allegedly undermine the party’s constitutionally recognised structures.

The Nigerian Senate has officially approved the N1.485 trillion budget proposal submitted by the Rivers State government for the fiscal year 2025.

The approval, granted during today’s plenary session, marks a significant step in the state’s financial planning and development agenda.

The budget, which outlines the state’s projected revenue and expenditure for the upcoming year, will now pave the way for the implementation of various projects and initiatives across Rivers State.

Details of the budget’s allocation, including specific sectors and priorities, are expected to be released by the Rivers State government in the coming days.

The Senate’s approval underscores its commitment to supporting the economic growth and development of the states within the federation.

This action enables Rivers State to proceed with its plans for infrastructure, social services, and other key areas crucial for the well-being of its citizens.

Further updates and analysis of the approved budget are anticipated as the year progresses.