Politics
Dame Amaechi To Build Women Dev Centres In LGAs
Most activities in Government House last week was
centred around visits by wife of Rivers State governor, Dame Judith Amaechi to the various local government areas of the state.
Last week, Dame Amaechi covered about seven local governments for her empowerment programme. She was at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area on Tuesday where she gave out various items to widows and women.
At Emohua on Wednesday, Dame Amaechi announced plans to build women development centres in the 23 local government areas of the state as part of her pet project. The Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI). She said the centres would be built in collaboration with development partners, stressing that they would create robust economy in the various communities.
“These centres are very imperative, we desire a centre that would be built by women, managed by women and utilized by women themselves, it would encourage rural dwellers at the local governments to develop their local economy in their area of comparative advantage”, she said
She further revealed that the centre would be built under the platform of Rivers State Women Association of Nigeria (RIVWAN) and will provide the enabling infrastructure and support for developing local content of our women.
The governor’s wife at the weekend visited Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru local government areas. At Akuku-Toru, she urged the youth to shun all forms of social vices and embrace peace. She also urged them to exploit the educational and job opportunities the Amaechi-led administration has provided for youth all over the state. At Okirka, she held an interactive session with the youth and charged them to be good ambassador of their families.
“As youths, this is the time to determine your future, you must begin to build a personality of your dream, today, you have every opportunity to actualize your dream’s. put your priority right and God willing, your future is secured”, she stated.
Also within the week, Rivers State Governor through the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barrister Chuma Chinye, debunked claims that the state government was planning to sell Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.
In a press statement from the Ministry, the Commissioner said, the governor was misquoted as the state government has not contemplated selling the five star hotel, but would rather privatise it to improve its performance. The Commissioner cited the case of old Supabod that was privatized and is now being run by private company, SPAR. He also assured that soon, Delta Hotels would be privatized as a way of repositioning the state owned hotel.
At the weekend, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, assured residents that the state government was doing all it can to ensure the deadly Ebola virus does not enter the state.
Dr. Parker in a press statement on Friday said, “Governor Amaechi has given us everything we need to fight Ebola Virus in Rivers state and has also assured me that should we need more personnel and material, the State would provide. However, I realize that this is a political season, but we as leaders must be responsible in our utterances so as not to cause unnecessary panic in our people”.
Dr. Parker lashed out at former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Austin Opara who in a radio comment accused the state government of not taking, Ebola virus spread seriously. Parker described Opara’s statement as “reckless, irresponsible, reresponsible and unfortunate”.
He said that the Rivers State Government was in touch with all agencies involved in the fight against Ebola within and outside Nigeria, including the centre for disease control (CDC), Atlanta and among university in the United States of America.
On Saturday, Chief of Staff Government House, Sir Tony Okocha responded to claims by Minister of State for Education, Anyesom Wike that the office of the Chief of Staff is dead.
Sir Okocha said Wike’s claim lacked any substantial logic as both persons did not exhibit the same “???? And style in office”. As far as he was concerned the office of Chief of Staff in Government House was still efficient and effective, as he does not blow his trumpet.
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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