Good morning, Nigeria! Welcome to Naija News’ roundup i Gossip News Now of today’s top newspaper headlines across the country, Saturday, 20th December 2025.
1. “We Will Show No Mercy” – Tinubu on 2026 Budget and National Security
During the budget presentation, President Tinubu outlined the government’s commitment to a hard reset of fiscal operations. He revealed that from April 2026, Nigeria will implement a single budget system with no rollover, ensuring all past capital liabilities are cleared by March 2026.
“This is a reset. A very hard one…By March 2026, all capital liabilities from previous years will be fully funded. From April 2026, we will operate a single budget. No roll over,” Tinubu said.
On security, the President vowed decisive action against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities, stressing that the government will adopt a zero‑tolerance approach.
“We will show no mercy to all those who commit acts of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping. We will fundamentally change how we confront terrorism and violent crimes,” he declared, underscoring the administration’s commitment to protecting Nigerians and restoring national security.
2. Reps Approve Increased Campaign Spending Limits Ahead of 2027 Elections
The House of Representatives has approved significant increases in campaign spending limits for candidates contesting elective offices across Nigeria in the 2027 general elections. The move follows clause-by-clause consideration of proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022.
Gossip News Now reports that presidential candidates can now spend up to ₦10 billion on campaigns, doubling the previous limit of ₦5 billion. Governorship candidates have had their spending ceiling raised from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, while senatorial candidates can now spend up to ₦500 million, up from ₦100 million.
For the House of Representatives, the limit has increased from ₦70 million to ₦250 million, while State House of Assembly candidates can now spend a maximum of ₦100 million, compared to ₦30 million previously. Local government chairmanship aspirants may also spend up to ₦100 million, and councillorship candidates now have a ceiling of ₦10 million, doubling the previous limit of ₦5 million.
In addition to campaign spending, the House also increased the maximum donation an individual or organisation can make to a candidate, from ₦50 million to ₦500 million, citing rising costs of political campaigns and present economic realities.
3. PDP Factions: ‘Better To Disagree Than Stagnate’ – Saraki
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has expressed confidence that the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be resolved soon.
Speaking on Friday in Ilorin, Kwara State, during the PDP Youth Summit organised to mark his 63rd birthday, Saraki acknowledged disagreements within the party but dismissed claims that the PDP is in disarray.
Saraki noted that disputes within political parties are not unusual and highlighted that the aggrieved PDP factions had met with INEC to resolve their differences.
Currently, the PDP is split along the lines of three key leaders: Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Governor Seyi Makinde; and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State. Wike’s faction appointed Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting National Chairman, while Makinde’s faction chose Tanimu Turaki for the same role.
The party’s factionalisation followed the end of the tenure of the former acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, creating a leadership vacuum that has fuelled ongoing disputes.
4. Labour Party Courts Segun Sowunmi For Ogun Guber Ticket
The Labour Party (LP) in Ogun State has formally invited Segun Sowunmi, a PDP chieftain, to contest the 2027 governorship election under its banner.
Gossip News Now reports that the state chapter of the Labour Party, led by chairman Oluwabukola Soyoye, visited Sowunmi at his residence in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, on Friday to extend the offer.
Soyoye urged the former spokesperson to ex–Vice President Atiku Abubakar to join the Labour Party, highlighting that Sowunmi aligns with the party’s vision and the need for a new era of governance in Ogun State.
“We want you to come and join us in Labour Party and be our governorship candidate in the next election,” Soyoye said.
Sowunmi responded by praising the Labour Party’s ideological consistency and commending former presidential candidate Peter Obi for boosting the party’s popularity. He also referenced the party’s strong showing in the last presidential election, where it secured over six million votes, reflecting its growing influence.
Highlighting Ogun State’s development potential, Sowunmi expressed his commitment to addressing the state’s key challenges and contributing to its progress.
5. Wilfred Ndidi Officially Named Super Eagles Captain Ahead Of AFCON 2025
Wilfred Ndidi has been confirmed as the new captain of the Super Eagles, taking over following the international retirement of former skipper William Troost-Ekong.
The announcement was made on Friday, December 19, via the Super Eagles’ official 𝕏 account, marking the end of Troost-Ekong’s leadership era and the start of a new chapter for Nigeria’s national team.
Ndidi, 28, spoke about the responsibility of the role and the importance of squad unity as Nigeria gears up for major tournaments, including the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
He previously wore the captain’s armband during Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup playoff against DR Congo, where Troost-Ekong started on the bench in a match decided 4-3 on penalties.
Gossip NewsNow reports that Ndidi’s appointment followed Troost-Ekong’s December 4 announcement to step away from international football, leaving Ndidi as the natural successor to lead the Super Eagles into the next phase of leadership.
6. Peller Apologizes Over Car Crash: “You Can Abuse Me, I Did Not Do It Intentionally”
TikTok star Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has issued a public apology following a car crash on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
Gossip News Now recalls that Peller was hospitalised after the accident on Sunday, which involved his newly-purchased Mercedes-Benz and occurred during a live Instagram session.
A visibly emotional Peller was seen lamenting relationship issues and expressing suicidal thoughts shortly before the crash. During the livestream, he repeatedly voiced concerns about his breakup and its repercussions, even threatening to harm himself.
“I will use this car and have an accident right now… I’m scared. If you break up with me, people will mock me… Thank you, I’m going to kill myself,” he said during the live broadcast.
In a post shared on Instagram on Friday, Peller expressed remorse and apologised to Nigerians and his fans. He attributed his lapse in judgment to the emotional pressure of his personal life and the pain of his recent separation.
Peller also urged the public to stop targeting Jarvis, clarifying that she was not the cause of the incident.
7. PDP Factions Reveal Outcomes Of Meeting With INEC
New details have emerged regarding the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Gossip News Now reports that the warring PDP factions, led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Kabiru Turaki, held discussions with INEC in Abuja on Friday to address the ongoing leadership crisis within the party.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, explained that the meeting aimed to provide a solution to the lingering disputes within the PDP. Both factions spoke to the media following the engagement.
Senator Anyanwu described the INEC Chairman as “blessed with wisdom by God” for convening the meeting and praised the way INEC facilitated the dialogue, emphasizing the Commission’s desire for the PDP to remain a strong opposition force in Nigeria.
He added that the discussions helped identify key causes of the conflict, including issues of “grief, aggression, and ego.” Anyanwu stressed the PDP’s commitment to the rule of law, electoral guidelines, and National Executive Committee (NEC) procedures, noting:
“PDP has mechanisms for managing internal crises, and that is what we are implementing now. I can assure you, we will emerge stronger.”
8. INEC Explains Meeting With PDP Factional Leaders
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified why it held a meeting with factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, 19th December 2025.
INEC stated that the session was aimed at reinforcing adherence to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Commission’s regulations ahead of upcoming elections. The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, confirmed that the Commission had received multiple correspondences from different PDP factions requesting intervention on various party matters.
The meeting provided a platform for open dialogue and constructive engagement, particularly given the conflicting submissions from the party. The goal, according to INEC, was to reach a shared understanding and outline a clear way forward.
Amupitan emphasised that all actions by INEC would strictly follow the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and the Commission’s regulations and guidelines, describing these as the legal frameworks guiding the Commission’s operations. He also assured the public that INEC would maintain transparency in all its dealings.
9. PDP Slams Tinubu’s 2026 Budget, Calls It “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2026 federal budget, describing it as a “Budget of Consolidated Renewed Sufferings” for ordinary Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the opposition party argued that the budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” fails to reflect the economic realities faced by citizens since Tinubu assumed office. The statement was signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
The party highlighted worsening living conditions, including rising hunger and the soaring cost of living, while noting that members of the governing class continue to enjoy affluence. The PDP questioned the government’s claims of economic stabilisation, saying that a 3.98 per cent Gross Domestic Product growth rate does not automatically translate into better living standards.
Citing the 2025 World Bank Poverty and Equity Brief, the PDP noted that over 30.9 per cent of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line. “This shows growth without prosperity,” the statement read. The party also criticised the President for failing to identify which sectors contributed to the growth or who truly benefited from it, contrasting it with the 6.87 per cent growth achieved in 2013 under the last PDP-led government, driven largely by non-oil sectors such as agriculture and trade.
While acknowledging the security allocation in the 2026 budget, the PDP emphasised that funding alone is insufficient. They urged the government to ensure effective and transparent implementation to provide modern equipment, adequate ammunition, improved intelligence, and better welfare for security personnel.
10. Tinubu Presents ₦54.46 Trillion 2026 Budget to National Assembly
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially presented the 2026 federal budget of ₦54.46 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly. The budget’s capital and recurrent (non‑debt) expenditures are pegged at ₦15.25 trillion.
According to Gossip News Now , the President allocated ₦26.08 trillion to capital expenditure, while setting the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel. The budget assumes a crude oil production target of 1.84 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.
In sectoral allocations, defence and security received the largest share at ₦5.41 trillion, followed by infrastructure at ₦3.56 trillion. Education was allocated ₦3.52 trillion, while the health sector received ₦2.48 trillion. The budget is themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
“That wraps up today’s top Nigerian headlines. Stay updated with more Naija News on Gossip News Now . See you again tomorrow!”
