Obi-Kwankwaso Movement Unveils Secretariat, Inaugurates Executives in Cross River

Obi-Kwankwaso movement. Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Obi/Kwankwaso Movement has inaugurated its Cross River State executive members and unveiled its state secretariat in Calabar, describing it as the “working home” for its political activities ahead of the election and beyond.
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The OK Movement is a platform mobilising support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ahead of the 2027 general election.

The event, held on Saturday in Calabar, was attended by party leaders and stakeholders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, coordinators from the 18 local government areas of the state and supporters who turned out despite the heavy downpour.

The National Convener of the movement, Jackie Wayas, said the turnout despite the weather demonstrated commitment to the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket, describing the unveiling of the state office as the beginning of a new direction for the people of Cross River State.

She said, “I bring greetings from His Excellency, Peter Obi and His Excellency Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso. Today marks the beginning of a new direction for the people of Cross River State. Come rain, come sunshine, we are here. We are here to reposition Nigeria.”

Wayas, while commending NDC supporters and Kwankwasiyya members, urged them to return to their polling units and wards to mobilise voters ahead of the 2027 election.

She said more votes for Obi and Kwankwaso would provide an opportunity for a new Nigeria.

“We need to go back to our wards and polling units to mobilize votes for Peter Obi and Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso. Any vote for them is for a new Nigeria. This is the hard work. It needs collective effort of all well-meaning OK Movement supporters,” Wayas said.

In his welcome address, the State Coordinator, Egwu Arong, said the unveiling of the secretariat would enhance organisation, coordination, documentation and grassroots mobilisation across wards and polling units.

“This secretariat is not merely a building, it is a working home for organization, coordination, documentation and grassroots mobilization. From this place, the voices of Cross River people will be gathered, their concerns structured, and their hope channeled into disciplined political action in support of our Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi,” Arong said.

The newly commissioned secretariat. Photo: Emem Julius
He said the movement in Cross River would focus on three pillars: clear coordination from the state to polling units; mobilisation and peaceful engagement of youths, women and the informal sector; and discipline and respect for law and order.

Arong charged members to register voters and “stand firmly with the NDC candidates”, saying the group would work to deliver Cross River State to the NDC.

On his part, the State Chairman of the NDC, Goddy Akpama, said the party was prepared for the general election, stressing that it would field credible candidates who would seek to improve the country’s economic situation through strategic reforms and development initiatives at the state and federal levels.

“Nigerians are waiting for good governance. When there’s a good government in place, the people rejoice. Today, you walk on the streets, you can hardly see a Nigerian smiling, because Nigeria is not yet okay.

“What we did in 2023, we will do in 2027, but this time we will ensure, physically, that those votes that you cast will result in good governance because we are going to the race with credible candidates who will transform the country’s economic situation with strategic reforms and development initiatives at both state and federal levels,” he said.

The Cross River Deputy Governorship Candidate of the NDC, Stella Archibong, urged members to translate their enthusiasm into votes, adding that the time was not for mere talks but for action.

Obi-Kwankwaso, Cross River

“The new Nigeria is possible. This is not the time to talk too much, but the time to put action more than words. Our vote is our power. It is time to use our votes rightly. From the presidency down to the least office, let us go out there and vote NDC all the way,” she said.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Cletus Amawu, in his vote of thanks, thanked the national and state leadership for the opportunity and promised vigilance during the elections.

“We have listened to all speakers that have spoken. It is not just enough. We will vote. We will count. And our vote will count,” Amawu said.
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Taiwo Oyedele: Moody’s Positive Outlook Validates Tinubu’s Reforms

The Federal Government has described Moody’s Ratings’ decision to revise Nigeria’s sovereign credit outlook from stable to positive as an external validation of the economic reforms implemented by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this in a press release posted on his X handle on Saturday.

Oyedele said the latest assessment by the international rating agency reflected the impact of reforms undertaken by the government over the past three years, including the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange-rate reforms and tax reforms.

“Moody’s positive outlook is an important external validation of the difficult but necessary reforms this administration has implemented, from removing a costly and inequitable fuel subsidy to unifying the exchange rate, and the landmark tax reforms,” the minister said.

He added that the reforms were restoring the fundamentals of macroeconomic stability, citing stronger foreign reserves, a resilient external position, moderating inflation and improved monetary policy transmission.

According to the minister, the government’s medium-term objective is to move Nigeria towards investment-grade status.

Oyedele, however, said achieving the target would require sustained improvements in the country’s external position, domestic revenue mobilisation, spending efficiency and debt affordability.

“Our medium-term ambition is to place Nigeria firmly on the path to investment grade. That will require us to sustain the external gains Moody’s has recognised, while making faster progress on domestic revenue mobilisation, spending efficiency, and debt affordability,” he said.

He stressed that the government was not pursuing a better sovereign rating merely for its own sake, but to create conditions that would lower the country’s cost of capital, attract private investment and improve prosperity.

The minister’s reaction came after Moody’s revised Nigeria’s outlook to positive while affirming the country’s long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings at B3.

The Federal Ministry of Finance said Nigeria’s current account surplus was projected to widen to about 6.1 per cent of GDP in 2026, while gross external reserves had risen to $53.30bn as of August 26, according to Central Bank of Nigeria data.

Moody’s also pointed to stronger-than-expected economic growth, with real GDP growth reaching four per cent in 2025, against an earlier projection of about three per cent.

Headline inflation has also moderated, falling to 15.4 per cent in July 2026 from 25.3 per cent a year earlier, according to the ministry.

Oyedele said the government would sustain the reforms underpinning the improving credit profile, particularly efforts to increase domestic revenue and strengthen public debt management.

The ministry also listed the maintenance of a disciplined and transparent foreign exchange regime, fiscal discipline and structural reforms aimed at supporting non-oil growth and diversifying government revenue among its priorities.

The ministry noted that Moody’s had indicated that Nigeria could secure a further rating upgrade if the improvement in its external position was sustained or if revenue reforms resulted in a durable increase in government receipts.

Taiwo Oyedele

The latest development is another positive assessment of Nigeria’s reform programme by international financial institutions and rating agencies.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that S&P Global Ratings upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating to B from B- in May 2026, citing improvements in the country’s external position and economic reforms.

The Federal Government said the latest assessments demonstrated growing confidence in the direction of the Nigerian economy, while acknowledging that further work was required to strengthen public finances and reduce the cost of borrowing.
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NNPC, Chinese Firms Sign MoU Towards Restart, Expansion Of Warri, Port Harcourt Refineries

The NNPC Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies, Sanjiang Chemical Company Limited and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, for collaboration through a potential Technical Equity Partnership in support of the completion and operation of the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries.

The MoU was signed by the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari; Chairman, Sanjiang Chemical Company, Guan Jianzhong and Chairman of Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co. Ltd, Bill Bi, in Jiaxing City, China, on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

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The potential framework would cover completion of outstanding work at the two refineries, together with operating and maintaining both facilities to achieve best-in-class, sustainable performance. Planned expansion and upgrades would elevate both facilities to cleaner, more profitable product standards.

The potential collaboration also contemplates expanding the refineries’ petrochemical capacities and harnessing gas and downstream opportunities through the development of co-located, gas-based industrial hubs.

Speaking shortly after signing the dotted lines, the GCEO NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the MoU execution as a significant milestone, following more than six months of concerted engagement between the technical and management teams of NNPC and the two Chinese partners.

“All parties recognise mutually beneficial opportunities for the development and long-term sustainable profitability of NNPC’s refining assets in Nigeria, and the collective weight required for success,” Ojulari noted.

NNPC

The GCEO further stated that the MoU is a significant step on the journey towards identifying potential technical equity partner(s) to restart and expand NNPC’s refineries, and to explore opportunities in co-located petrochemicals and gas-based industries.

The MoU reflects the parties’ shared intent to progress discussions in good faith, with any definitive arrangements to follow in due course and subject to customary approvals.