Politics
Amaechi Justifies Choice Of Dakuku Peterside
Primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC) for the Rivers State House of Assembly and governorship positions dominated most part of last week activities at Government House.
On Tuesday results of the election into State House of Assembly trickled in with former Chief of Protocol at Government House, Mr. Henry Halliday clinching the ticket to represent Bonny Constituency. Also Hon. Victoria Nyeche of Port Harcourt Constituency I and Hon. Iningba to represent Port Harcourt Constituency II got their tickets.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi arrived the state on Wednesday ahead of the APC guber primaries on Thursday.
A stakeholders meeting was held that evening by top party leaders.
On Thursday all was ready to attend the massive APC guber primaries held at the main bowl of the Civic Centre in old Port Harcourt township.
Before attending the APC guber primaries, Governor Amaechi visited the burnt New Layout Market in Old Port Harcourt Township. About 40 Stalls were burnt in the inferno that started in the evening of Tuesday last week.
Governor Amaechi blamed on the traders who had erected make shift wooden stalls and warned that the market was built to be used for foodstuffs, and supposed to be open.
He promised to address the plight of traders who had lost their wares, but informed them that government will engage a facility manager to run the market.
Both Commissioner for Special Duties and Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt City local government area promised liaise to ensure that the market is renovated.
It’s expected that power, water and other facilities will be restored.
From the market, Governor Amaechi proceeded to the venue of APC guber primaries. He addressed the 4,574 delegates who participated, urging them to support Hon. Dakuku Peterside whom he said was chosen based on equity and justice.
He said the South-East Senatorial District was fit toproduce governor since other senatorial zones have produced. Amaechi also said that the three candidates who showed to contest, Senator Magus Abe and Engr Tele Ikeru are honourable men and qualified but that one person will emerge in a contest.
On Friday, Governor Amaechi and state delegates for the APC Presidential Primaries played host to Kano State Governor, Rabin Kwakwanso who visited to seek their votes.
The Kano State governor said his vast public service experience qualifies him to be the next Nigerian President.
On Saturday another presidential aspirant and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar also visited the state to canvas for votes from Rivers delegates. He urged them to vote wisely, adding that he is the most prepared based on his experience as former Vice President and activism to institute democracy in Nigeria.
In his response, Governor Amaechi commended both Atiku and Kwakwanso for their visits and assured that delegates will meet and agree on who to support based on what they will do for Rivers, Bayelsa States and Nigeria as a whole.
Last week Saturday, Governor Amaechi participated at the unveilment of the proposed Port Harcourt Diocesan Pastoral Centre owned by the Catholic Church at Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
He pledged support to the project and also pledged to complete renovation of schools in the state.
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.
-
News2 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
Maritime2 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News2 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News2 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News2 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime2 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment