Politics
Rivers: AC Dismisses Speculation On Demolition Exercise
Contrary to speculation that the ongoing demolition in Rivers State has been directed to perceived political enemies, Action Congress(AC), says their party leader’s official residence located at the Government Reserve Area (GRA), has been earmarked too for demolition.
In a statement issued on line by the State Secretary of the Party, Hon. Okis Bob-Manuel, explained that members of the task force on illegal structures in the state Ministry of Urban Development visited their party leader’s Government House official residence and marked the dreaded ‘X’ on the walls of the residence.
He stated that the Commissioner for Urban Development, Barrister Osima Ginah, who lead the team was AC representative on Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s cabinet.
Worse still, he noted, Ginah was nominated by the AC party leader, Prince Tonye Princewill, to join the Unity Government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration in the state.
Yet, the walls of the official residence of his party leader was earmarked for demolition, with a threat to pull down within two weeks, or face the wrath of the government.
When contacted, Barrister Osima Ginah says, Prince Tonye Princewill is his brother, leader and close associate, insisting that, “he did not send him to the state cabinet to be biased in his official functions”.
In his words: “I will personally oversee that the task force ensure that the efforts of the Gov. Amaechi’s led administration to restore Port Harcourt to its garden city status are not thwarted in any form by anybody including my party leader”.
Ginah, also AC stalwart, argued that Prince Tonye Princewill was a party to the decision culminating in the on-going efforts of the Amaechi’s administration to restore the beauty and aesthetical value of Port Harcourt.
Therefore he said, his party leader would not protest the ministry’s two week ultimatum that he reduces the fence of his official residence located at the former Deputy Governor’s residence.
The commissioner admitted that the walls of his official residence had earlier been earmarked for demolition, thereby putting to rest speculations from articulated quarters that the ongoing demolition was an exercise of vendetta directed at real or perceived enemies of the government.
But he said, the demotion exercise, was a concerted effort to take the state to the next level.
Ginah reiterated his ministry’s desperate resolve to ensuring the implementation of the urban renewal policy of the administration.
He expressed delight at the response by most residents in old GRA and gave special kudos to the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Bala Hassan, the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for the quick compliance in reconstructing their fences.
When The Tide visited the official residence of the AC leader, the high fences has the dreaded “X” marks, signifying that the fences should be reduced within two weeks.
The AC leader, Prince Tonye Princewill was not available for comment, as he was said to be on a working visit to Europe.
But his Media Consultant, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze confirmed that Prince Tonye Princewill has directed the pulling down of the affected fence and its immediate reconstruction.
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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