Politics
PDP Chieftain Tasks NASS On Electoral Act Amendment Bill
A former National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South South, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, has called for speedy passage of the Electoral Act amendment bill to enhance the electoral process in the country.
Agidi said this when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
The chieftain said that those who were anticipating to benefit from the shortcoming of the law may not want the amendment to take place, urging the National Assembly to act in the interest of the nation for the benefit of all.
Ogidi stressed the need for early passage of the bill, ahead of the commencement of 2023 electioneering, to prevent changing the rules during the contest.
“We encourage the National Assembly to work on the amendment of the Electoral Act, the National Assembly should as a matter of urgency amend the Act.
“The APC government has a lot of influence on the National Assembly, they should allow the Assembly amend the Act.
“You may feel that it will not affect you today but nature is a very interesting thing, it may come back to hunt you, you might be the victim.
“So my advice to the APC government is to allow the amendment to happen,’’ he said.
Ogidi expressed worry over the current security situation in the country, saying that people could no longer move freely on the highways without fear of being attacked.
He decried activities of bandits and Boko Haram across the country, stressing the need to stem them before they degenerate further.
Ogidi said that open grazing was no longer tenable in the country, recommending ranching to replace the nomadic system because of its economic potential and viability.
The chieftain commended the Nigerian military for remaining neutral and not venturing into politics in spite of the unpatriotic activities of some politians and the state of insecurity.
“I want to commend the army for resisting the temptation even though some unpatriotic politicians are encouraging them; do not listen to those selfish and unpatriotic politicians.
“Keep maintaining the integrity of the country and allow the police to do the internal work of the nation,’’ he said.
Meanwhile a top contender for the governorship seat in Ekiti under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Wale Aribisala, has assured his supporters of not only going to win the primary but win the governorship election and become the next governor of Ekiti.
Aribisala said this in a statement by the Director-General of Wale Aribisala Campaign Organisation (WACO), Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, in Ado-Ekiti.
He said that he had better chances of winning the election than all the PDP gubernatorial aspirants on the field today, putting all the parameters on the table.
He said that the age, experience, exposure, education, contacts in high places and the pedigree were all to his advantage.
Aribisala also debunked a publication in social media stating that he shelved his ambition for the senatorial post instead of the 2022 governorship position.
He described the publication as false and misleading, maintaining that he could not and never be part of arrangement to trade -off his ambition.
He declared that the said publication might have been orchestrated by a group of people who were intimidated by his political profile.
He noted that the said publication was aimed at distracting, confusing and discouraging members of the public, especially the PDP delegates for the gubernatorial primary in their support for his gubernatorial ambition.
He described those behind the publication as enemies of progress and reaffirmed his readiness to contest the primary whenever it is scheduled to hold.
He appealed to the PDP delegates and members of the general public to discountenance the fake publication, assuring that he was committed to lead Ekiti into a new economic eldorado after winning the PDP primary and the governorship election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aribisala was a former member of the House of Representatives and currently the National Treasurer of the PDP.
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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