Politics
Rerun Polls: INEC Yet To Begin Preparations
Barely three weeks to the
conclusion of the legislative re run elections in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State is yet to begin preparations for the suspended polls.
Sources hinted The Tide on Wednesday at the state, headquarters of the commission that they were awaiting further directives from INEC’s national headquarters to commence preparations for the polls.
The INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu late last month after consultations announced July 30 for the conclusion of the suspended polls in Rivers and other states.
The Rivers State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak had also met with security agencies, party leadership and stakeholders on the need to educate and enlighten their supporters on the importance of violence- free elections before the July 30 date was announced.
The Tide gathered that the commission has concluded some of its preparations for the polls, but has to wait till next week for the recruitment of Ad hoc workers for the polls.
Efforts to contact the REC, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak was not fruitful as he was away and could not answer his calls.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the commission in Port Harcourt, Anthonia Amaimo said the commission was waiting for further directives from the headquarters to commence work.
Amaimo noted that all directives had to come from the headquarters even though the date for the elections has been announced.
The legislative rerun election would be conducted in the three senatorial districts in Rivers State but politicians and political parties complained that they were yet to know the details and polling units where the elections would be held.
Meanwhile, as the people of Kogi East senatorial district prepare for the senatorial re-run election next week Saturday, no fewer than 1,390 ad hoc staff will be involved in the election to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Samuel Usman, disclosed this last Wednesday, while briefing journalists on the commission’s preparations for re-run elections.
He noted that after due consultations with relevant stakeholders both at the state and national levels on the conditions precedent for the peaceful re-run election in the zone, and based on the outcome of these meetings/consultations, had scheduled July 23, 2016 for the conduct of the elections.
According to him, the local government areas involved in the senatorial re-run election are Ankpa,
Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji and Idah Others are Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu and Olamaboro.
He stressed that the state constituency re-run elections will be conducted in one polling unit out of 89 (PU 003) in Idah while in Ofu, election would be conducted in 79 polling units out of 129.
The REC assured the electorate that the lessons learnt from the previous exercises would be used in raising the bar during these elections, saying he would also continue to encourage participation in the electoral process as the present commission was poised to meet the global best practices.
He therefore warned that no permanent voters cards (PVCs), no voting, saying anybody who has no business with the process should steer clear from the polling and collation centres.
“Security agencies have collectively vowed to secure the election and would deal decisively with hoodlums who would disrupt the process,” he warned.
He therefore called for co-operation and appealed to members of the public should be highly informed to conduct themselves before, during and after the exercise and take precautions in order to avoid repetitions of violence and disruption of the electoral process.
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.
-
News2 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
Maritime2 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News2 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News2 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News2 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime2 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment