Politics
‘Rivers APC Registration, A Huge Success’
The just-concluded
membership registration exercise of the All Progressives Congress has been described as a huge success in Rivers State.
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha told our correspondent at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, that the large turnout of people for the exercise demonstrated the willingness of the Rivers people for a change.
He, however, decried the alleged unprovoked attacks on innocent persons by the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) members during the exercise.
The lawmaker representing Emohua/Ikwerre Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Andrew Uchedu also hailed the registration exercise, saying the massive turn out for registration was an indication that PDP is dead in Rivers State.
On his part, Etche Local Government Chairman, Mr Reginald Ukwuoma said the registration was successful in the area except in Ulakwo where opponents chased people with dangerous weapons.
The chairman alleged that GDI members were attacking officials and tearing registration materials, saying intimidation cannot help in retaining people in PDP.
He appealed to APC members not to be deterred by the antics of the GDI to deprive them of their rights to freely associate with like minds.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress says it targetted at least 800,000 out of the 1.5 million non-indigenes in the State as members.
The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Barrister Chuma Chinye, said this while addressing a meeting of stakeholders, State officials and 23 local government co-ordinators of the Non-Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF) of the State APC in Port Harcourt, recently.
Barrister Chinye, who is the leader of the forum, said: “Our target in the APC membership drive is to ensure that we get 800 out of the 1.5m non-indigenes resident in Rivers State and with enough commitment, we can achieve that.”
“Politics these days is a serious business and we are not playing with the idea of ensuring that the APC forms the government come 2015 both in the state and at the national level. We have the number, we have the drive and we can’t afford to allow all that Gov. Chibuike Amaechi has achieved these past six years to be wasted by the misguided PDP elements”, he said.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Dr Sokonte H. Davies, has also condemned the disruption of APC’s membership registration exercise in Degema Local Government Area.
Dr Davis, who expressed disdain over the manner those handling the exercise and intending members of the party were attacked and brutalized last week Monday said the attack portends a great danger to democracy.
“These actions have proved that a drowning man shall hold on to anything with the hope of surviving”, he said.
He described as unfortunate the murder of a member of the party in Ward 5, Bakana. While condoling with the family of the deceased for their loss, he called on the Police in Rivers State to investigate the murder and take appropriate actions.
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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