Politics
Etche Pledges Support For PDP
The people of Etche ethnic Nationality have drummed support for the People ‘s Democratic Party.
Receiving a delegation of PDP stalwarts led by the outgoing Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and now House of Representatives flag bearer for the party for the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Prince Ogbonna Nwuke who was on a sensitisation mission, the chairman of the Omuma Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Monday Ojiegbe said his people who were registering in their numbers would continue to support Governor Amaechi.
Eze Ojiegbe said the Omuma people were satisfied with the developmental projects put in place by the State Government.
“We have agreed to register fully”, said Eze Ojiegbe, “and the Omuma people have agreed to vote for Governor Amaechi”.
The Traditional ruler and members of the council of chiefs who endorsed Prince Nwuke as their candidate in the forthcoming elections commended him for his steadfastness. They later blessed Nwuke and prayed to God to protect him from the activities of evil doers.
Prince Nwuke has earlier thanked the chiefs and people of Omuma for the enormous support they are giving to Governor Amaechi and his administration. Nwuke said he was in the palace to pay respect to the traditional institution and in Omuma to urge the people to register en masse so they can exercise their franchise.
He reminded them that the governor whom he described as a worthy son of Etche grew in their midst as a student.
The former commissioner equally cited the numerous roads and schools as well as health centres which are either completed or are under construction as evidence of the fulfillment of the promises made by Governor Amaechi and the PDP.
He said that given the good works of the governor the best that the Omuma and Etche people should do is to reciprocate the gesture when the time comes.
Also speaking, the Director in charge of NGOs in the Amaechi Campaign Organisation, Barrister Nnamdi Okere told the people that no less than 180 kilometres of roads had been constructed by the administration throughout the Etche Ethnic Nationality.
Okere urged the people of Omuma to remain steadfast, saying that Amaechi would be returned overwhelmingly because of his commitment to the people.
Chief Okey Amadi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects said it was time for the people of the Etche Ethnic Nationality to close ranks.
He said that party members who ran against Prince Nwuke had agreed to bury the hatchet and work together.
He thanked the chiefs for the warm reception granted members of the delegation.
In his contribution, Deacon Victor Amadi who is the House of Assembly flag bearer for Etche Constituency I noted the importance placed on the traditional institution, saying it was for the reason that the team decided to pay a visit to the royal fathers.
He expressed confidence that the people of Etche and Omuma would through their votes demonstrate that they appreciate Amaechi’s contributions to the growth of Rivers State.
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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