Politics
My Ward Tour Not For Campaign – Amaechi
A solemn mood overtook most part of last week
in Government House shortly after the news of sudden death of Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Port Harcourt City Local Government, Hon Charles Paul Ejekun filtered in on Wednesday morning.
The governor’s ‘Meet the People’s Tour’ which had begun on Tuesday with visits to six ward in Obio/Akpor was called off in the morning. Governor Chibuike Amaechi immediately on receiving the news, paid a condolence visit to the grieving family that same day.
He had on Tuesday during his tour of wards in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, visited Rumuomasi Ward 8, Rumuobiakani Ward 4, Woji Ward 6, Elelenwo, Rumuokwurisi and Mbuesulam Ward 2.
Before the ward tour, the governor had flagged off the 95th anniversary celebrations of the Nigerian Girls Guides Association in Port Harcourt, on Monday. He thereafter took members of the Guides on a tour of projects embarked upon by his administration covering, Model Primary School, Elekahia; Model Secondary School, Eleme; Afam Gas Power Plant and the Songhai Farm in Tai.
The governor later hosted the Guide members to a special camp dinner in Government House on Tuesday evening. He counseled women to be bastion of change in society, while lamenting the erosion of values in society.
Before he embarked on the ward tour on Tuesday, the governor had also played host to the Governing Board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) led by its chairman, Alhaji Tijani Adekanbi.
Intimating the governor on why they were in the state, Alhaji Adekanbi said that the purpose was to see the state of camp facilities and also thanked Governor Amaechi for his numerous support to the scheme.
Adekanbi said, “I have gone round and I have seen a lot of changes.” He prayed God to continue energizing the governor for his good works, while drawing the attention of the governor on the need to furnish the orientation camp with mattresses and electricity.
Governor Amaechi was in Sokoto State at the weekend. He travelled to Kasarawa village in Wamako Local Government Area to launch the distribution of 1,000 filler machines purchased by the state government.
Speaking at the event, he said that the only plausible solution to most of the problems of Nigeria was heavy investment in agriculture.
The Rivers State Governor advocated the reduction of the existing wide gap between the rich and the poor in Nigeria saying, “This is absolutely necessary to ensure even socio-economic development, unity, peace and prosperity.”
On Saturday, Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha replied claims by Minister of State for Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike that the State government should account for the Port Harcourt City landscaping project.
Sir Okocha dismissed Wike’s claims, calling on him to account for project executed in his tenure as Chief of Staff. He also challenged former Commissioner for Environment, Kingsley Chinda to account for the landscaping project.
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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