Politics
Protests Greet Rivers Govt House
Last week, Rivers State Government House was
innundated with protests. As at the last count, not less than five groups visited the Brick House to register their grievances over issues of state and national concern.
Some of the groups include women, civil rights groups who registered their grievances over the abducted Chibok school girls in Borno State.
On Monday, last week, Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council, Hon. Augustine Ahiamadu addressed pressmen during which he accused Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike for sponsoring youths and a rebellion to remove him from office.
He alleged that the steps taken by Wike include the circulation of a letter from the Presidency authorizing the suspended community development committee and the youth body to take over the activities of the council.
On Tuesday, a group known as Egi Traditional Rulers Council protested against the closure of the conucil and for a new local government area.
They expressed worry that the crisis was a ploy to attack their son and chairman of the Council, Mr. Ahiamadu.
High Chief Shedrack Orikoha led the traditional rulers on the protest, alleging the attack and closure of the council by some hired thugs by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was addressed by Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr. Fortune Oguru. He called on all parties, especially the youths to maintain peace, “follow peace and abhor violence”.
Returning to the state on Wednesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi presided over the weekly Executive Council Meeting from where he proceeded to receive Senate Committee on Privatization led by its Chairman, Senator Olugbenga Obadara.
He used the visit to enumerate the State’s investments in power sector. He expressed dismay over the situation whereby the State generates power while the Federal Government collects the revenue and never remit any to the state.
He urged beneficiaries of the government privatized agencies to employ people as exemplified by Indorama Eleme Petrochemical to solve the problem of restiveness.
In the words of Governor Amaechi, “I believe that one solution to this insurgency is education and employment. The easiest employment is farming, because a large number of them are not educated and unskilled. I applied it here in Rivers State and it worked”.
On Thursday, the governor took time off to visit ongoing projects in the state. Someof the project visited include the Woji/Elelenwo Link Road currently being expanded. He also inspected the level of work at the Dr. Odili/Woji/Akpajo bypass.
On Friday, the governor conducted two swearing in sessions during which the judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chairperson of the State Internal Revenue Board was inaugurated.
The Rivers State Chief Executive charged the new Revnue Board boss, Mrs Orila Obele-Oshoko thus, “we believe that in the two months, we should see substantial improvement. You don’t need to increase taxes.
If you plug all those loopholes where people are stealing money from and reduce the number of touts that hang around, you will see a substantial increase in the IGR. I think that there are still so many holes that you need to close up so that we can get more money”.
She said, “Don’t pay cash to anybody. It is very important, so even when you go to the bank, go to the bank, we have the pay direct, you get there, you tell them that you want to pay revenue to Rivers State Government, the banks will attend to you because this money that we are collecting … is going to government”.
Shortly after the searing-in ceremonies at the executive Chambers, the governor moved to the Banquet Hall to declare open the monthly Inter Government Forum.
From there he proceeded on project inspection at Tai Local Government Area in company of Shell Petroleum Development Company Managing Director, Mr. Mukiu Somonu and Commissioner for Envrionment, Dr. Nyema Wali.
After a tour of the State Waste to Wealth Plant the governor spoke to the press on the N3.2 billion recyclying plant.
On Saturday, the governor attended the birthday thanksgiving service of Venerable Jolly Ndubuisi at St. Barnabas Anglican Elekahia, Port Harcourt. He thanked God for the life of the Anglican priest who was among men of God who prophesied of him becoming the governor of Rivers State.
He later on proceeded to the new International Conference centre along Chief Ake By Pass for the 7th birthday of Former Minister of Sports, Alabo Tonye Graham – Douglas.
He said of the Kalabari Chief “He is a great man. The only Rivers man who has been minister four times. He has been a Commissioner and a Chief of the Kalabari Kingdom”.
Politics
INEC Extends Candidate Submission Deadline Till ‘Morow
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.
Politics
2027: INEC Extends Submission Deadline For Assembly, Guber Candidates
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.
Politics
Yilwatda’s Birthday Outreach Demonstrates Leadership – Kefas
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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