Politics
“Voting PDP Will Sustain Dev In Rivers” – Wike
Last week in Government House was a mixed vibe of
activities covering courtesy calls, swearing-in of Substantive Chief of the State, commissioning of projects and re-run campaigns in Abua and Ahoada local government areas.
Observing the Mother’s Day Celebration last week Sunday, Governor Wike in a message to celebrate Mothers in Rivers State said the state was founded on productivity and contributions of mothers. The governor described Mothers as critical partners in the state development, and urged them to sustain the tempo.
The governor’s message was re-echoed by his wife, Justice, Eberechi Nyesom-Wike during a church service to mark Rivers State Women’s Mothering Sunday at Christ Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, Justice Wike said Women must seek the cooperation of men to advance women rights in the society.
The governor was represented by his Chief of Staff last Sunday at Rumuji in Emohua during Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally at Ward 13, where 150 members of the All Progressives Congress defected to the PDP.
The governor’s wife, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike on Monday commenced activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day by visiting the Port Harcourt Children Home. She harped on the need to provide quality education to children with special needs in order to equip them to live productive life in the future.
On Tuesday, Governor Wike swore-in Justice Iyaye Laminkara as a substantive Chief Judge of the State. This followed her confirmation by the State House of Assembly on Monday. Justice Laminkara is the second female Chief Judge of the State. Shortly after her swearing-in, Governor Wike urged her to dispense justice without fear or favour.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Wike headed straight to flag off construction of Ozuoba-Rumuosi Road. At the ceremony, the governor assured Rivers people that nobody can rig the re-run election once they can stand their ground and resist manipulation.
The governor was represented by the secretary to the State Government Chief Kenneth Kobani at the International Women Day. He challenged Women to rise up and speak for their rights, insisting that deprived and poor women should be assisted through special empowerment programmes.
Rivers deputy governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, joined other top dignitaries to mark the International Women Day. She observed that since the Beijing Conference, Rivers State has been at the forefront of protecting women rights, saying about 84 women have served in government positions since then.
On Wednesday, while receiving the new Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Governor Wike said all efforts were being done to check cult-related killings in the state. He maintained that it was unfair to play politics with the lives and property of Rivers people.
In a statement last Wednesday shortly before the weekly state Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, condemned the statement made by the Acting National Chairman of APC, Mr Segun Oni that Wike was responsible for the killings in Rivers State.
The commissioner later briefed newsmen on the outcome of the Exco meeting and disclosed plans by government to conduct fresh audit of civil servants in the state through biometric data capture in the next four weeks.
Governor Nyesom Wike unveiled the phase one of the Nkpogu Bridge on Thursday and laid foundation for the second phase immediately. He charged the people to vote the PDP to sustain the tempo of developmental projects.
The governor on Friday addressed thousands of PDP faithful at Abua/Odual Local Government Area, calling on them to be vigilant ahead of the re-run elections. The governor reiterated the same call on Saturday at Ahoada Town during Rivers West Senatorial Campaign flag-off. He dismissed claims by the erstwhile governor that the failed to protect lives and property, describing the allegation as a ploy to destabilise the state. Wike submitted that he would make any sacrifice to protect the lives of Rivers people.
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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