Politics
Rivers NUJ Gets New Executive …Moves To New Secretariat’ Morrow
American Ambassador, James Entwistle (left) fielding questions from journalists during his visit to the Senate President Bukola Saraki in Abuja last Thursday
After weeks of horse-trad
ing, a new executive of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has emerged.
The new executive led by Mr Omoni Ayo Tamuno emerged at the end of a keenly contested elections that took place at the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) secretariat, Port Harcourt.
Tamuno who was the immediate past vice chairman of the NUJ, Rivers State Council, polled 147 votes to emerge the chairman of the council. He beat two other contestants, Messrs Stanley Job Stanley and Imikubi Lillybox (both of the Radio Rivers Chapel) to a distant second and third positions respectively.
Stanley who was the immediate secretary of the council scored 80 votes, while Lillybox garnered 52 votes. Three votes were, however, declared void by the Returning Officer, who represented the national secretariat of the union.
Two other positions that were contested are those of secretary and vice chairman.
Mr Soibi Max-Alalibo of The Tide Chapel beat his office colleague and only challenger, Mr Tonye Orabere to emerge the secretary. While Max-Alalibo scored 145 votes, Orabere polled 130 votes, with seven votes declared void.
In the vice-chairmanship category, Miss Uche Agbam of the Rivers State Television (RSTV) Chapel emerged winner after polling 115 votes to defeat Mrs Clarice Azutalam of the Federated Chapel who scored 85 votes and Mr Jim Opiki of the Independent Monitor who polled 76 votes. Four votes were declared void in this category.
It will be recalled that the election was earlier scheduled to hold in May 21, but following a protest against the disqualification of a chairmanship candidate, Mr Obed Omah of the Radio Rivers Chapel, the election was ‘paused’ by the national secretariat of the union.
Supporters of Omah under the aegis of New Era Campaign Organisation led by Mr Tonye Jenewari later gave Obed’s campaign structure to Ayo Tamuno to produce the new chairman.
Speaking shortly after receiving certificate of return, new chairman thanked the journalists in the state, especially his supporters, for the trust and confidence reposed in him to lead the union.
He declared that the election has produced ‘no winner, no loser’promising to carry everybody along in the new administration.
Reviewing events that led to the emergence of Ayo Tamuno as the new chairman, Mr Jenewari noted that Omah’s disqualification gave Tamuno a clear lead ahead of his rivals.
“The result of the chairmanship election they just announced is a product of serious politicking and good understanding between our group (Obed’s group) and Ayo Tamuno’s group
“It all happened within just 48 hours after we confirmed that Obed would still not be allowed to contest,” he said.
The new executive is expected to move into the new ultra-modern secretariat built for the union by the immediate past state government of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi along Moscow Road, tomorrow.
Boye Salau
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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