Politics
Scholarship Beneficiaries Endorse Rivers Governor …Businessman Too
350 beneficiaries of Rivers state government overseas scholarship under the aegis of Professionals and Graduates of Rivers State Government Overseas Scholarship Scheme have called on the people of Rivers State to come out enmase to support and re-elect RT Hon. Chibuike Amaechi in the forthcoming general election.
The group made the call through its interim co-ordinator Adokiye Evans Tom Briggs and interim secretary Chidi Ogbonda said re-electing Amaechi in the general election will bring the much needed opportunity and encourage the governor in building and consolidating on the health and educational projects in the state.
The group expressed its sincere appreciation to the state for the opportunity given to them to travel abroad for quality education in world class institutions.
It also dismissed rumours that the overseas scholarship was fake, adding that such rumours was false.
According to the group, the Rivers sate government sponsored overseas scholarship scheme is real, as evidences by us we appealed to the government to continue the laudable scheme to enable more Rivers State indigenes benefit from it.
“As a way of showing appreciation to utilise the knowledge gained from the laudable scheme to partake in the growth and development of our state. This is in order to actualise the vision of this government to make this state a world class one and to avoid possible brain drain which has negatively affected the development of the nation.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Olison Nigeria Limited Mr. Oliver Okeregwu, has called on the people of Rivers State and indeed the people of Etche extraction to vote en-mass for governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in the April general elections.
Mr. Okeregwu made the call while speaking with journalists at Okehi the headquarters of Etche Local Government Area recently, after being bestowed with an award by the Ogbakor Etche.
He stated that the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has done very well in the transformation of the state which he said, can be compared to any developing nation across the globe.
According to him, the decision of the governor to build modern health centres, primary and secondary schools across all the various wards in the state is an eloquent testimony of his people oriented policies.
The Enugu State based Civil Engineer expert averred that governor Amaechi has within three year in office changed the face of governance in the state adding that given another chance to govern the state would mean another harvest of development in the state.
He urged the people of the state to give their unflicting support to the governor in the forthcoming election, noting that he has more experience and understand the problems and pains of the people than any other governorship aspirants in the state.
He commended the leadership of Ogbakor Etche for the honour done him adding that the award will spur him to do more for the people of Etche ethnic Nationality and the entire Rivers people.
The Chief Executive Officer of Olison Nigeria Limited urged the people of Omuma to participate in the forthcoming INEC voters registration exercise adding that it is the only way they can elect leaders of their preferred choice
Kin Banigo/Akujobi Amadi
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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