Politics
Fakorede, SARS, APC Agents Brutalised Me – Igwe
The Centre Collation centre Agent of the Peoples Democratic Party for Rivers East at the last December 10,2016 Re run legislative elections in Rivers State,Hon Chinyere Igwe has vowed to utilize every legal means to ensure that those who brutalised him are brought to justice.
Igwe, who is also the Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, made the avowal after he testified at the ongoing Judicial enquiry, said his petition to the panel is one of the legal procedures he has embarked upon to ensure that those who violated his rights are brought to book.
The Commissioner, while being cross examined by his council, Barrister T.A Amadi said despite his Identity card as accredited agent by the Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) as the PDP Collection Agent, he was manhandled, beaten to stupor, which resulted to several injuries.
He accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) Agent, Hon Nnamdi Wuche Police Superintendent Akin Fakorede, the commandant of the Special Anti Robbery Squared (SARs) and his men to beat him up.
According to him, the incident occurred at the Election collation centre and wondered what the SAR were doing there.
Igwe who also presented video clips showing his brutalisation, hinted that he was hospitalised by in Port Harcourt and London where he received medical treatments resulting from the beating.
“After I was beaten up, I was taken to their office at Rukpokwu where I was detained before taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Officer incharge of the Political Bureau who went to NEC office to investigate found out that my INEC Identity Card was genuine and the declared copies of results of Emohua with me as at the time of incident were real’’, he noted, the Chairman of the State Commission of inquiry, Justice Chinwendu Nwogu had earlier said that the commission was a fact-finding body and was not constituted to witch hunt anybody or group of persons.
Justice Nwogu stated this while delivering his inaugural address to commence the sitting of the commission last Monday at the Judiciary Complex in Port Harcourt, said that the Commission was inaugurated on the 22nd of December, 2016, by the Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike in exercise of his powers pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law of Rivers State (Cap 30) laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999 and all other powers enabling him in that behalf.
According to him, the commission’s terms of reference include, among other things, to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the violence during the December 10, 2016 re-run/supplementary elections in the state, identify the perpetrators of the various acts of violence and killings in the aforesaid election as well as identify the victims of the violence including those killed, etc.
He assured that they would adopt all known principles of fair hearing, equity and good conscience in course of its public sitting, adding that equal opportunities would be given to all persons who appear before it to state their cases as well as tender all relevant documents that would assist the commission in its findings and recommendations.
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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