Politics
Bayelsa APC Visits Amaechi
Shortly after Governor Amaechi attended the 26th Con
vocation Ceremony of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, penultimate Saturday, he travelled outside the state for other official duties.
Within the week however, activities in Government House continued as usual.
On Wednesday last week, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Worgu Boms addressed pressmen in Government House over the suspension of Justice Peter Agumagu as the state Chief Judge by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
While declaring the position of the State Government on the action, Barrister Boms said, “the position of the NJC is very unfortunate, gives equally unfortunate misleading impression to the public that the appointment of Hon Justice Agumagu as Chief Judge of Rivers State, occurred with no contribution of the NJC to it or that there is no history behind it”.
He argued that apart from being a senior to Justice Daisy Okocha, Agumagu is also a senior to Okocha at the Bar and at the Bench. Against this backdrop, he insisted that the NJC has no powers whatsoever under any law to declare the action of the state governor in the appointment of Justice Agumagu as ultravires.
He said, “Only a court vested with the requisite jurisdiction can validly do so and the NJC, no matter how eminent its members are, is not a court of any cadre in Nigeria. It is like any of the several commissions established under the same section of the same 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
As a build up to the ward congress of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, the party had a seven days of fasting and prayers. The party prayed for wisdom, protection and good health for the family of the state governor and the State Executive Council, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the Interim Chairman, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said that prayer was equally offered for the successful tenure for the newly appointed – Chief Judge of the State, Justice Peter Agumagu.
On his part, the Interim Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya who declared the fasting session closed, urged party members to embrace God, saying that without Him, all the party’s efforts to provide good governance for Rivers State and the entire nation would be in vain.
Shortly after he came back on Friday, Governor Amaechi played host to the APC from Bayelsa State, The delegation was led by erstwhile – governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Intimating the governor on why they visited Rivers State, Chief Sylva stated, “we are here in a party function. The APC has provided a credible platform for progressives to come together to sweep away the corruption and ineptitude of the day.
He praised the governor’s transformation of the city of Port Harcourt and Rivers State in general.
The former Bayelsa State Governor further stated that they were in solidarity with Amaechi over his travails in the hand of the Presidency assuring that, “when the time comes to sweep away this government at the national level, Bayelsans will stand with you”.
Responding, Rt Hon Amaechi advised the party members in Bayelsa to avoid rancour and in fighting, so as to achieve a united front to win the upcoming elections.
He added, “Rivers and Bayelsa are one. And therefore, APC in Rivers and Bayelsa States are one”.
Shortly after the visit of Bayelsa State APC, the Rivers State governor entered into a meeting with top APC stakeholders in the state ahead the party’s ward congress in the state.
After the meeting, it was learnt that the party’s ward congress had been postponed till Monday (today).
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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