Politics
RSHA May Not Sit this Year
After the relatively protracted adjournment following the disruption of its last planned sitting by protesters earlier in the year, news of the House reconvening last Tuesday came with a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, among the events that ensued on that day, the violence witnessed in the hallowed chambers and the resultant allegations and counter allegations over what really transpired may go down in record books as a day to remember in the history of the state.
Trouble started when the five anti-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers attempted to remove the leadership of the House from office by impeaching the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree.
To accomplish this motive, no sooner had the members settled down for the business of the day than the leader of the five opposition lawmakers, Hon Evans Bipi, moved up to where the leader of the House, Hon Chidi Lloyd, was seated and assaulted him, using the tripod of a video camera.
The reaction that followed the persistent assault on the leaders of the House, which was extended to the Speaker and other 27 lawmakers loyal to the leadership of the House present, resulted in a bloody pandemonium characterized by a free-for-all fight. By the time the dust raised by the pandemonium settled, particularly following the intervention of state Governor and his Security details, several lawmakers had sustained various degrees of injury with Hon. Michael Okey-Chinday, one of the opposition five, worst hit.
The development momentarily stalled the purpose for which the House was reconvened by the Speaker, which was to enable the Governor, represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, to present an executive request. The request was for the amendment of the state 2013 Appropriation Act.
Presenting the request shortly after the initial violence that rocked the Assembly, Engr. Ikuru explained that the state Government required the amendment to enhance effective implementation of capital needs of the budget, urging the House to approve it. After due consideration, the House approved it with a voice vote of all 23 members present.
Shortly after the pro-Amaechi lawmakers left, three of the five opposition members, led by Hon. Bipi organized an impeachment of the speaker and other key office holders, while also installing Hon. Bipi as the new speaker.
Sequel to the events of last Tuesday, Hon. Bipi made various pronouncements as the new speaker of the House, alleging that a reasonable number of the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers were no more with the leadership of the House.
In response, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Amechree, debunked Bipi’s allegation, saying that the pro-Amaechi 27 members were still intact, and called on the citizenry to disregard Bipi’s impeachment claim. In the same vein, the immediate past Speaker, Rt Hon. Tonye Harry, reiterated the loyalty of the 27 members to the leadership of the House and the Governor. As a proof of them being intact, he said the 27 would sit on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Wednesday sitting could not hold as a multitude of people, believed to be thugs of Hon. Bipi thronged the Assembly complex, compelling the police to disperse the lawmakers and shutting the gates of the Assembly complex up till last Friday.
Given the development of last Tuesday and Wednesday, and the fact that the House had prior to last week met its mandatory 189 sittings for the year, there is little doubt that the House may not sit again this year.
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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