Politics
Amaechi Mourns Former NUJ President
The news of the successful hosting of the national convention of the nation’s rising opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was fouled last week by Federal Government’s directive to bar Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and two other governors from Kano and Edo States from participating in the final mega guber rally of the party in Ekiti State.
News of the arrest of the governor filtered in on Thursday afternoon after Amaechi was held by soldiers at Odudu, outskirts of Ondo State on his way back to Akure Airport. It was also learnt that his chattered airplane was also grounded.
Shortly after, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari addressed journalists in the state with the call on the federal government to ensure that the governor was not hurt in the process.
Semenitari warned against the dangers of infringing on the constitutional rights of the governor in moving freely and associating freely.
Also, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) through its chairman, Hon Oji Ngofa, described the actions of the security agents as “imprisonment of Rivers people”, saying the governor is the symbol of Rivers State and should not be shabbily treated.
Ngofa who is also the CTC chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, hinted of plans to institute legal suit to get redress in court, while lampooning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plans to rig last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
In response to the development, Human Rights Advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falami has urged Governor Amaechi to seek legal address over the harassment he suffered in the hands of security agents last Thursday in Ekiti State.
But before the ugly incident on Thursday, the governor returned to the state on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the weekly State Executive Council meeting was convened with Governor Amaechi presiding.
The executive meeting ended in the evening and both Commissioner for Information and Communications and her counterpart from Youth Development, Hon Owene Wonodi addressed pressmen on decisions so far reached.
Wonodi disclosed plans by the state government to send a delegation of youths to the United States for an Exchange Programme that will attract young people into agriculture.
The foreign exchange programme which is a partnership between the state government and the United States Agency for International Development will take the youths to the University of Arkansas. They will also visit Mississipi and New Orleans to gather knowledge in modern agriculture production.
Mrs Semenitari informed State House correspondents that the meeting would continue on Monday (today) when more information will be made available on other policies and programmes endorsed by the council.
On Friday, members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) were struck with bad news over the sudden demise of the former President of the body, Mr Ndagene Akwu. Before he became the National President of the NUJ, Mr Akwu was one time chairman of the State Council of the union.
Shortly after the news of Mr Akwu’s death was announced, Governor Amaechi sent a delegation to deceased’s family home for a condolence visit. The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari led the delegation that comprised the Managers of Radio Rivers, Rivers State Television and other ministry officials.
She said, “I am here on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He was highly distraught when he heard about the loss of the former President of the NUJ, a true Rivers son. He asked me to come and express his condolence and that of Rivers people to the family of Ndagene Akwu.
“His Excellency is not around, if not, he would have been here in person. He wanted the family to know that this is a loss to Rivers State because as you know, Ndagene today is the only Rivers man who has been President of the NUJ. Therefore, this is a loss for us as Rivers people and it’s a loss to the union. And His Excellency has asked me to tell journalists that this loss is the one that he feels very deeply and will be extremely supportive in our work and Rivers State will stand behind the family through the trying period”.
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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