Politics
2015 Polls: Nigeria, Canada Partner For Credible Elections
The Canadian government has said it is set to
partner with the Nigerian government to promote credible elections ahead of
Nigeria’s 2015 elections.
Mr. Jean-Paul Ruszkowski, President, Parliamentary
Centre, Canada, said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday after a
roundtable with leaders of major political parties.
Ruszkowski said that the aim of the meeting with leaders
of major political parties was to work out modalities on how to set up a
Canadian Parliamentary Centre that would enhance Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The purpose of the visit is to learn about how Nigeria
is progressing in its democratic practices; how the federal system in Nigeria
works.
“And through that process explore, with the help of the
party leaders, to understand the priorities; what will bring all parties
together to conduct a project that will be of use to Nigeria.
“Be it in the field of
budgetary oversight, in the field of public accounts, security or
natural resources or whatever sector is identified by the parliamentarians as
high priority.
“We have been to several countries over the years, so we
are in the position to help.
“We are just starting the conversation and the whole
idea is to build confidence between the citizens and governments and political
parties so when the elections come there will be no doubt about how
representative the election will be.’’
Ruszkowski added that the Canadian Parliamentary Centre
worked with legislatures of 31 African countries to “help them better serve
their people”.
Also speaking, Sen. Ben Obi, Presidential Adviser,
Inter-Party Affairs, said several meetings with legislative leaders, INEC and
the Canadian Parliamentary Centre would be held.
Obi added that the meetings would map out strategies on
improving Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Tide gather that he (Ruszkowski) may have held
meeting with the Senate President, the Speaker and some leaders of the National
Assembly; and as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
To round off the visit, he would have also had meeting
with Prof. Attahiru Jega all on how to further improve the electoral process of
our country.
“We’ve had a robust discussion with our leaders here on how to build formidable internal democracy in our parties and how the parties can work hand-in-gloves with legislators in the National Assembly to make democracy more at home with us.
“Our aim is to have the Canadian Parliamentary Centre
established here in Nigeria and because they have been functional in 31 African
countries and Nigeria is not there yet. “So we intend that this visit is the
beginning of how that centre can be established here in due course.’’
Sen. Obi added that Nigeria’s participation in the
Canadian Parliamentary Centre would enhance capacity building of
parliamentarians.
He said that through the setting up of the centre,
Nigeria would enjoy better inter-party cooperation.
“I believe that parties must work together; they must
interact and share ideas so it is not every time that they are on the pages of
the newspapers attacking one another,” he said.
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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