Politics
Lawmaker Lambasts Rep
The lull in activities at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) continued last week as neither plenary nor any other important event was held.
The Assembly complex was desolate and quiet as most lawmakers were visibly not present for legislature or committee business. This was just as the car park remained virtually empty.
The situation indicated that the lawmakers may have been pre-occupied with other functions which many believe, might be in the interest of the state.
A plenary session that was billed for last Wednesday in accordance with the House motion of adjournment was later put-off sine die.
Hinting the Assembly’s press corps on the development, the Clerk of the House, Chief Standford Oba said the plenary session earlier scheduled to hold on August 2, 2017 was put-off.
He did not give any reason for the postponement, but said the press corps would be alerted on any plenary session or legislature assignment.
However, the lawmaker representing Omuma Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Kelechi Wogu, last Monday, again debunked the allegation that the Assembly only sits on the directive of the Executive Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Kelechi, who dismissed the insinuation credited to a member representing Ikwerre Constituency, Hon Azuibuke Wanjoku of APC, said it was not true that the Assembly only had it’s sessions on the directive of the state chief executive.
Kelechi, who is also the chairman of the House’s Committee on local government affairs, said the Assembly held it’s plenary sessions and other statutory functions in accordance with the House’s order of events.
He called on the Assembly’s relevant House Committee to sanction Wanjoku for his utterances, saying that such unfounded comments are capable of creating crisis in the House and the state in general.
The lawmaker used the opportunity to advise legislators especially members of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the House to desist from partisan politics in the Assembly.
He said, though the members were elected on party platforms as members of the Assembly, the interest of the state is paramount, and that members should not do anything that would instigate crisis in the Assembly and the state in general in the name of party politics.
Wogu, a PDP lawmaker, said the leadership of the Assembly, under Governor Wike’s administration, has never discriminated against any member in its activities, irrespective of the party line.
He said every lawmaker was given his or her entitlements irrespective of party affiliation, and wondered why Wanjoku should paddle rumours that could breach the existing harmony and peace among the lawmakers.
It would be recalled that the lawmaker representing Ikwerre Constituency, Hon Azuibuke Wanjoku had alleged that the State Assembly with members of PDP as majority held plenary only at the pleasure of Rivers State Governor.
Enoch Epelle
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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