Politics
Rivers: INEC, Police Promise Peaceful Polls
The Independent National
Electoral Commission, (INEC), the Police and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have expressed their determination to collaborate and work for a peaceful, free and fair election in Rivers State.
The three organizations and agencies made the pledge on Wednesday during a stakeholder’s interactive forum organised by the INEC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Speaking at the event, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, informed stakeholders that the commission in her bid to conduct credible, free and fair elections on Saturday and April 11, has embarked on many programmes including distribution of permanent voters cards (PVCs).
Gesila disciplined that the number of registration voters in the state is 2,537,590 , adding that as at March 24, 2015, a total of 2,490,341 were received out of which 2,156,371 representing 87.32 percent had been distributed.
According to her, 12,699 PVCs were snatched, while a total of 300,313 are yet to be collected, adding that the figure includes both the PVCs of those who registered in 2011 and 2014.
“A total of 6,818 card readers received and one each will be deployed to the 5,838 polling units/voting points, while the balance of 980 will be used to augment where necessary’’, she added.
She noted that sensitive election materials like ballot papers, result sheets and card readers are configured and customized to function in a particular polling unit, explaining that these sensitive materials are also colour-coded as they have different colours from one area to another and cannot be used outside the areas they are meant for.
She also confirmed the receipt of 21,000 ballot boxes by the state INEC, adding that the commission has reduced to the barest minimum incident of late arrival of personnel and materials to the polling units through the creation of Registration Area Centers (RACs) and Super RACs from where poll officials will proceed to their various polling units on election day.
The Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature, said the police were ready to protect lives and property of the citizenry including INEC officials and materials as he urged citizens not to be afraid but to turn out peacefully and cast their votes.
The Police Commissioner who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Muhammed Ali, said men of the command have been well trained and that the command had deployed some additional police officers to all the polling units.
According to him, “We shall collaborate with the local communities to form a better synergy in ensuring a free and fair election as the constitution demands.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State chapter, Opaka Dokubo, said the media was also ready to be objective in their reports and urged Nigerians to join hands to make the elections successful.
Ike Wigodo/Florence Ujile
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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