Politics
AC LG Boss Gets Suspension
The chairman of Action Congress (AC) in Owan West Local Government, Mr. Patrick Ojo has been suspended. His suspension which took place in an enlarged meeting of the entire party executive members elders, chairmen of the II wards, women and youth leaders in the local government was hinged on a petition that indicted Ojo of financial impropriety, high handedness, insolence and other sundry allegations. Mr. Peter Eguabor was later elected as acting chairman.
The meeting at Eruere on the auspices of Chief J.S. Oni, one of the party elders took a swipe at Ojo at the AC chief’s ineptitude, who was accused of being responsible for the party’s misfortune in Owan West. The members promised to assist the acting chairman to reposition AC to become attractive to new entrants who feel threatened by the former chairman’s autocratic leadership style.
Eguabor, who was unanimously selected in accordance with the party constitution, to replace Ojo in acting capacity, is expected to superintend the party’s affairs, until a later date when a substantive chairman would be elected. AC in Owan West, has known no peace since the seemingly controversial Ojo also known as “man of God” brought the party into disrepute. It was alleged that those who were ready to flirt with the party and swell its ranks were reluctant to do so as result of Ojo’s politics of exclusion.
This became evident when a group of PDP chieftains, led by Prince Fred Alaba Ogedengbe, defected to the Action Congress on hearing that the former chairman had been suspended. Ogedengbe and his group heaved a sigh of relief that their dreams to join the moving-train had been actualised by the exit of Ojo whose style of leadership was everything but democratic.
“AC in Owan West replicated all the abhorrent virtues that the PDP symbolised while Mr. Patrick Ojo was in the saddle as chairman. With the turn of event and what we know of the acting chairman, we are certain that AC is the party to beat in any election,” Ogedengbe said.
Mr. Bayo Adams, AC Senatorial leader who tacitly endorsed Ojo’s removal also received the former PDP members into AC fold, assuring them of equal ownership of the party.
His words: “In Action Congress, there are neither owners nor joiners. What we have is a platform and an integrated space where everyone is qualified to achieve his or her dream, with or without money bag or godfather.”
He encouraged party faithfuls to work as hard as possible since the local government election is very close. Adams said that the AC being the government in power cannot afford to loose election in any party of the state on account of intra-party crisis, enjoining the members to resolve their crisis in the interest of peace and stability.
While thanking members for finding him worthy to lead the party to greater height, Eguabor pledged that he would reconcile the different factions that were created by the former chairman.
Ben-ose Ogbemudia, Benin
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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