Politics
RVHA Tasks INEC On Voter Registration
Even as the absence of plenary session at the Rivers State House of Assembly continued last week, the legislative complex still recorded a swarm of visitors and other official engagements by the Assembly personnel.
For Assembly Press Corp, it has been like squeezing water out of stone to keep public abreast of goings-on in the Assembly.
However, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, last Tuesday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Continuous Voters’ Registration exercise which commend nationwide last week is devoid of discrimination, manipulation and intimidation in the state.
The Speaker who made the call at a press briefing at the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt also called on the Nigerian Police to ensure adequate security of lives and property during the exercise, saying that some selfish politicians may decide to do anything on the law to sabotage the exercise for selfish political reasons.
Ibani also called for drastic punishment for any person or group of persons caught engaging in acts inimical to the successful conduct of the exercise.
The Speaker appealed to persons of voting age to go to their various registration centres for registration and collection of permanent voter card (PVC).
Also on Tuesday, the member representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, Hon. Adonye Diri represented the House at the celebration of the World Malaria Day urging concerted efforts of both individuals and governments to create an enabling environment to reduce the prevalence rate of malaria in the state.
The Assembly regretted that despite government investments in health care sector, recent statistics indicate that Rivers State is one of the malaria endemic states in Nigeria.
Same Tuesday, the Assembly Committee on Environment played host to the Nigerian Bottling Company, manufacturers of coca-cola drinks at the Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo tasked the company on the state environmental laws, saying that the Assembly was liaising with the state Ministry of Environment to ensure complete compliance with the state environmental laws by companies operating in the state.
Ahiakwo said, the Assembly would soon commence the monitoring of oil and gas companies in the state to ascertain their level of compliance to environmental laws. On their part of the company, both the principal consultant, Dr Celina Enville and the regional public affairs and communication manager, Mr Ekuma Eze commended the Assembly for doing a good job and assured that NBC will continue to comply with environmental laws and policies of the state government.
Last Friday, the Assembly Committee on ICT led by its Chairman, Hon. Nwanaka Okpokiri visited Ignatius Ajuru University of Education as part of its over sight functions.
The Chairman, Okpokiri commended the management of the institution for its effort on developing the ICT education department, saying that the establishment of ICT department and the equipment so far provided will go a long way to improve information technology in the school.
Also speaking, member of the committee and legislator representing Asari-Toru Constituency ll, Enemi George called for synergy between the management of the University and the Assembly to enhance ICT development in Education in the state.
Vice Chancellor of the Institution Professor Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele represented by the Deputy VC Academics, Prof. Vincent Asuru appealed for more budgetary allocation to enable the institution meet up with demands of robust ICT developments in the state.
Enoch Epelle
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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