Politics
Rivers Youths Support Amaechi
Last week started on a sour note with the crisis that rocked the hallowed chambers of the State House of Assembly over failed attempt by five anti-Governor Amaechi Lawmakers to impeach the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree.
The desperate lawmakers after their failed bid on Tuesday, started a free-for-all fight. The governor came to the rescue when some legislators supporting him were beaten up during the rowdy session.
Leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, who narrated his ordeal in a hospital bed recalled how he was hit several times with a camera tripod stand by.
Hon. Oke Chinda before he defended himself. Shortly after the crisis, the governor, represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, went to the House for the presentation of a bill to amend the 2013 Appropriation Bill to accommodate some sub-heads for capital expenditure.
Though the deputy governor was attacked by some hoodlums in the House of Assembly Complex, he got the approval of 23 lawmakers who reconvened for a full session of the House later.
On Wednesday, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly debunked claims of alleged impeachment of Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree. Their statement was signed by 26 lawmakers loyal to Governor Amaechi.
On the same day, youths from across the 23 local government area of the state marched down to the House of Assembly Complex to pledge their support to the Speaker.
Police shot tear gas to disperse the youths, who later – converged at the Government House pledging their unalloyed support to Governor Amaechi.
Despite the tensed atmosphere on Wednesday, some members of the African Union Party Parliamentary Group of Nigeria, led by Meg Hillier paid a courtesy visit to Governor Amaechi.
Mr. Hillier praised the governor for the developmental strides saying, “We have seen the new model primary and secondary schools and we also visited some primary health centres built by the Rivers State government”.
Thursday last week, the Revenue Mobilization Fiscal commission visited Government House to intimate the governor of plans to commence a new revenue sharing formula.
Leader of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission team, Chief Nimi Dambo Kalabo, told Governor Amaechi who was represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru, that the commission plans a stakeholders forum across the zone, in order to come up with an equitable revenue sharing formula.
Engr. Tele Ikuru, while praising the commission for the plans harped on the need for a just and equitable revenue sharing formula insisting that those who produce more should earn more.
Shortly after the visit of the revenue mobilization and Fiscal Commission on Thursday, the senate committee on states and local government administration mandated by the senate to investigate the crisis in Rivers State House of Assembly visited Amaechi.
Led by its Chairman, Senator Kabiri Gaya, the committee condemned in totality what happened on Tuesday at Rivers State House of Assembly RSHA.
While calling on all parties to sheath their swords Gaya said the body would meet with all parties before returning to Abuja with their report.
Governor Amaechi later told the visiting panel that the state has been under siege since after he won the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), lamenting the use of federal might in the withdrawal of his security aids.
Amaechi later met with the executive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter led its chairman, Chief Chris Oruge who expressed labour’s concern over political crisis in the state.
He added, “ Labour in the state in solidly behind you and we will continue to support because since this crisis began we have not heard anybody pinpointing that Amaechi has embezzled our money”.
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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