Politics
Princewill Rules Out Defection To PDP, APC
The governorship
candidate of the Labour Party in Rivers State, in the last elections in the state, Prince Tonye Princewill, says he would not defect to either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or All Progressives Congress (APC) in the larger interest of Rivers State people.
Princewill in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, said he preferred to continue searching for peace in the state rather than realigning with any political party for political gains.
According to him, “After careful consideration, I and my political associates have decided not to align with either of the other two political parties but to stand with Rivers people for the sake of peace and long term prosperity. We see the two of them as birds of the same feather, fruits of the same tree and two sides of the same coin. So rather than add fuel to their fire, we opt to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
“It is no longer in doubt that the election in Rivers State was neither free nor fair nor credible. Rather than the jubilation of a victory or the recriminations of a defeat, I and my team prefer to keep searching for peace. The bloodshed is simply too much and thirst for even more appears palpable. Who will be left for us to lead? How much more of this can we take?
Princewill noted that he was not ready to go down the road of a huge legal expense to pursue “justice’ in court since a repeat-election, if it were to come, may only reproduce an even bloodier outcome which will also be the subject of litigation.
He said, “in spite of flaws in the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission still went on to announce a winner. As law abiding citizens, we cannot stop him but we promise him, we will always be here to remind him, Rivers State must always come first.”
He denied that neither APC nor PDP were his enemies, adding that they were just his opponents in a game of politics.
He, however, pleaded for forgiveness from those he or his associates may have wronged during the electioneering, stating that it is time to put the past behind and put the state forward.
For those who have wronged against us, we forgive them too. It is time to put the past behind us. From today, I and my team pledge to do whatever is in the people’s interest to help Rivers State and Nigeria move forward. This is simply paramount. That is what is important. We came to contest elections, not to fight a war. We came to serve.
“Rivers people have been through hell, with no jobs. We all can do a lot better. But first, we must have peace. Let our internal division and party politics not deny our children our bright future we all need,” he said.
Princewill was suspended on Monday by the Labour Party over his refusal to challenge the victory of the PDP candidate, Chief Nyesome Wike, in the April 11 governorship election in the state.
Ike Wigodo & Mercy Gift
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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