Politics
I Didn’t Come To Witch-hunt Anybody – Wike
Government activities started on a positive note last week, as Governor Nyesom Wike mounted the saddle of leadership in Government House. He started by swearing-in the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daisy Okocha and her counterpart in the state Customary Court of Appeal, Christy Nwankowo.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Barrister Wike expressed happiness that the judiciary was back, saying was has fulfilled that the people could have access to justice again.
The governor urged the two top judiciary officials in the state not to victimize anybody in view of the role they played in the judiciary impasse. Wike, however, flayed the state judiciary service commission for not living up to their responsibilities while the crisis lasted.
On her part, Acting Chief Judge, Justice Okocha, commended the state governor for restoring the hope of the judiciary. Justice Okocha promised to institute novelty in justice delivery and restore the image of the judiciary.
Later on, the governor attended a one-day retreal of National Assembly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held at the Presidential Hotel. Speaking in one of the sessions, Governor Wike called for the overhaul of the party media strategy new that it is playing the opposition.
Also on the same day, Wike inaugurated the new State House of Assembly. The governor who made a brief speech at the 8th Assembly inauguration reminded the legislators of their duty as a sensitive arm of government, assuring that his administration was ready to partner with them to move the state forward.
On Tuesday, the governor played host to permanent secretaries in the state civil service while chiding some of them for being partisan during the past administration. Wike assured them that he was ready work with those who will jettison personal interest and work in line with government policies and programmes.
The governor further said, “I didn’t come to witch-hunt anybody but when I see an attempt to sabotage my administration, I will not fold my hands”.
He promised to give the permanent secretaries the necessary cooperation to enable them work effectively. He, however, asked them to go and bring the account reports in their ministries for the past 18 months, while revealing that the handover notes made available by the past administration were muddled.
On Wednesday, the governor held series of meetings with oil depot owners and refuse contractors in the State. He called on the oil depot managers and tanker drivers to evolve ways to make their activities public friendly, saying most of the oil tankers parked indiscriminately pose danger to the public.
Dialoguing with refuse contractors, the governor urged them to return to site, lamenting that the city was under serious environmental threat due to the mounting refuse heaps on the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs.
Governor Wike, as a follow-up to his meeting with depot owners and tanker drivers, visited site for the parking of trailers and tankers at Iribe, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Thursday. The site, according to him, will help decongest the city of indiscriminate parking and reduce traffic jams.
On the same Thursday, he visited the state waste management agency (sanitation authority) and later the Faculty of Law in the State University of Science and Technology.
On Friday, the governor announced three position in the new government. These include the new Chief of Staff, Engr. Emeka Woke, Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Opunabo Inko-Taaniah and A.J. Beredugo for Research.
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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