Politics
APC Urges Jonathan To Fish Out Abuja Blast’s Perpetrators
The All Progressives
Congress Governors Forum (APCGF), last Wednesday, challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to fish out the perpetrators of the Nyanya bomb blast.
The Chairman of the Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State made the call when he led his colleagues on a visit to victims of the Nyanya bomb blast at the National Hospital in Abuja.
It would be recalled that on Monday, a bomb blast killed about 72 people, while several others sustained varying degrees of injury, at Nyanya, an outskirts of Abuja.
“We want to request our President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces, to deepen that particular section of our constitution, which guarantees safety of lives and property of the ordinary citizens.
“We urge him to show leadership at this moment and do whatever it is within his capacity and capabilities as President to fish out those who are involved in this act.
“We are here as APC governors at the National Hospital to visit victims of the Nyanya bomb blast, which was an ugly and unfortunate incident that claimed so many lives“, APC governors said.
Okorocha, on behalf of the APC governors, commiserated with the families of those who lost their loves ones, saying, “we know they must be in serious pains at this moment”..
He decried increasing lost of lives in the country, adding that,“almost on daily basis, we hear one ugly incidence or the other about lost of lives.’’
He condemned, what he called “an unholy act,” which he said, would not do any good to the country.
“We notice that the increased blood shedding in our nation is becoming worrisome and as leaders, we believe that this is not a time to say what is wrong or who is wrong.
“This is a time that we must all close hands to ensure the safety of lives and properties. This is not a time to talk about politics with people’s lives,” he said.
He appealed to all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation and religion, to come together and unite with a view to fight “this evil of the moment which has terrorised our nation”.
Okorocha, also said the governors were concerned over the kidnapping of 100 school girls in Borno.
“While we urge all Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, we pray that we should unite at this moment to fight this evil”.
He disclosed that out of concern, the forum had decided to establish a trust fund for APC governors to support families of victims.
“We shall also join force with other democrats to ensure that this bad story ends as quickly as possible”, he said.
L-R: Former Chief Executive of Newswatch Magazine, Mr Ray Ekpu, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mr Edem Duke, Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Chief Mike Omeri and Etsu of Karu, Luka Baba, at a media roundtable on reporting the National Conference in Abuja, recently.
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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