Politics
Commissioners Re-affirm Support For Amaechi
Political activities dominated most part of last week in Government House , about six commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who were not listed amongst those expelled by the Felix-Obuah led People Democratic Party (PDP) addressed newsmen Wednesday.
The commissioners include those of Transport, George Tolofari, Education, Dame Alice Nemi, Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside. Others include: Wene Wonodi of Youth Affairs, Dr Ipalibo Harry of Employment Generation and Dr. Sampson Parker, Health.
The Commissioners described their exclusion action as ploy by the Obuah-led faction of the PDP to sow seed of discord and suspicion in the Exco Council. According to them, they were surprised that their names were not mentioned among the other 14 commissioners who were expelled for their failure to appear before the controversial Performance Evaluation Committee.
The commissioners said they never sent or delegated anybody to represent them and wondered why they were excluded. The Chief of Staff, Sir Tony Okocha had on Tuesday described the action of the Obuah led PDP as sub-judice and illegal.
Sir. Okocha wondered why Obuah and his group would expel party members, while the case was still in court. He stated that the action has thrown the party in bad light, and may lead to its misfortune in future elections.
It would be recalled that on Sunday Sir Okocha had at a Church service at Holy Trinity Angelica Church, Rumuapara in Apara urged the church to pray and support the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.
Sir Okocha told the Church, “Anything you hear about Governor Amaechi-those negative ones are blatant lies. They are just trying to call a dog a bad name to kill it. They are making trump up charges to perpetuate persecution, but I know that Amaechi is a papal knight and a believer.”
Last week Wednesday, 27 lawmakers loyal to Governor Chibuike Amaechi issued a statement to condemn the expulsion of some commissioners from the PDP. According to them, the reasons, methodology and procedures that led to these pronouncements are unconstitutional by reasons of Article 21 (4) (5) (6) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In Thursday last week National Assembly members together with, local government chairman of the PDP the Rivers State Executive Council and local government chairmen in the 23 councils formally announced their boycott of the PDP mini-convention billed to hold last Saturday at Abuja.
Speaking unbehalf of each of the groups were, Honourable Asita for National Assembly members, Dr. Tammy Danagogo of Rivers Executive Council, Chimbiko Akarolo spoke for the council chairman, while Samuel Horsfall for party chairmen.
Asita gave reasons for the boycott and said,” we are worried about the rascality which activities of the party is carried out in Rivers State. We are aware that the Mini-convention is on Saturday and we had hoped that the party at the Centre takes steps to put things right. Having watched over time our party gliding into disrepute.”
Earlier on Thursday, Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii and other members of the Port Harcourt Centenary committee addressed the press on activities lined-up to celebrate 100 years of the establishment of the city.
From the list of activities lined-up Feyii disclosed that celebrations would stretch to the end of the year, and would include beauty pegeant, football tournaments, award, and shows. A monument is expected to be unveiled in the old Port Harcourt to mark the centennial.
On Friday, the governor represented by his deputy Engr. Tele Ikuru unveiled activities for the centenary celebrations. In the morning, he had flagged-off a marathon and later in the day oversaw ceremonies held at the Civic Centre.
Amaechi on Friday described Port Harcourt as a world class city and key to the economic, political and cultural renaissance of Nigeria and West Africa region, noting that the new greater Port Harcourt would provide the platform for a future world class city.
On Saturday the Oro-Ibe (Boms Community Hall at Elekahia was unveiled. The building is constituency project of House member for Port Harcourt Constituency 1, Victoria Nyeche.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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