Politics
Tukur Urges Party Members To Face Challenges
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman has urged members of the party to work collectively to find solution to the country’s challenges instead of lamenting on issues.
Tukur spoke last Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of a 50-member advisory committee of the party.
“At a time like this when the country is facing a number of challenges, particularly the security situation in the country, all hands are required to be on deck,’’ he said.
According to him, the essence of constituting the committee which is made up of the founding fathers of the party is to avail Nigerians the opportunity to tap from their wealth of knowledge.
The chairman said that the committee would also assist him to rebuild the party, which was faced with some internal problems.
Tukur expressed optimism that the committee, headed by formal Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, would assist governments at various levels in finding lasting solutions to national problems and reposition the party.
“This is why I decided to ask all of you to assist me in not only repositioning our party but also proffering solutions to the enormous challenges facing our nation,’’ he said.
The chairman said although the party had grown tremendously in the last 13 years, it was still faced with some challenges that should be tackled.
He said some of the challenges were problems of coordination and cooperation among party members, respect for party constitution, problems of openness, inclusiveness, fairness, fair-play and internal democracy, among others..
He described most of the problems in the country as tough and had been made more difficult by the mindset of the people.
“We cannot reposition our party or be a leading force in deepening democratic culture in Nigeria unless we effectively address these problems and challenges,’’ the chairman said.
He said that the military culture of doing things had dominated the country’s political culture and stressed that a reversal of the situation was essential to enthrone true democratic culture.
He said “reducing corruption to a tolerable level and judicious application of the common wealth will be necessary if poverty reduction is to be effectively addressed and living conditions of the citizens bettered’’.
Tukur said that politicians of “deeds and not of words’’ who adhere to the rule of law were needed to achieve set goals.
He said that the protection of citizen rights, adequate protection of lives and property and modernisation of agriculture were needed to guarantee the country’s drive to nation-building.
Tukur urged politicians to rebuild the nation on the basis of shared responsibilities for all, irrespective of tribe and religion.
He expressed optimism that with the calibre of members of the newly inaugurated committee, things would begin to change for the better.
The party chairman urged the committee to be selfless in the discharge of its duty by giving useful advice that would enhance the growth and development of the country and the entire citizenry.
Responding, Ekwueme pledged that the committee would work with the party by giving meaningful advice that would move the nation forward.
He commended the chairman for appreciating that no one had monopoly of wisdom and for engaging the team to advise him.
Ekwueme assured the chairman that the committee would assist the party’s leadership to realise the ideas of its founding fathers which was to have an encompassing political party committed to serve the interest of the nation and its citizens.
Dr. Mohammed Shata would serve as secretary of the committee, which has Dr. Joseph Wayas, Chief Tony Anenih, Mr Richard Akinjide, Mr Solomon Lar , Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as members.
Other members are Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Bello Maitama, Dr Sam Jaja, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, PDP National Secretary, Chief Bode George and Chief Don Etiebet, among others.
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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