Politics
Nobody Can Intimidate Us-Wike
The victory of the Senator Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the Supreme Court last Wednesday, resonated across the country and threw Government House in Port Harcourt in a celebrative mood.
At last, a year old feud over the leadership of the PDP was laid to a final rest, as Governor Nyesom Wike and other governors who had fought for justice expressed optimism that the Party would bounce back in 2019 to take over the country’s leadership.
However, it was the South-East/South-South Governor’s meeting held at Enugu State that took the lead in the events that took place last week in Government House, Chief Nyesom Wike was-among governors from the South-South Zone that attended the inaugural regional parley aimed at finding common economic and political fronts between the two regions in Southern Nigeria.
The PDP leadership feud which was laid to rest last Wednesday, excited many stakeholders in the Party. Shortly after the judgement, Chief Wike said, “this judgment shows that there will be opposition in Nigeria”.
The governor further stated that the PDP would emerge from the crisis stronger because all stakeholders would work hard to rebuild the Party.
On arriving Port Harcourt International Airport to witness a huge reception by PDP faithfuls, Chief Wike declared again that, “Now, we have a government and we have a Party that says that will be no opposition. If there is no opposition, there will be no democracy”.
He called on Nigerians to pray for the nation’s judiciary as to facing difficult times, threat and intimidation of judges.
Commending River PDP faithful for being steadfast during the legal fireworks, Wike added, “God has come out to rescue Rivers State and PDP. Nobody can intimate us”.
Last Thursday, Chief Wike attended the formal ceremony for the operationalisation of the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army held at Bori Camp. He and other four governors from the Niger Delta pledged support for the new Army Division. He specifically sought for an all-out war to dislodge kidnappers and cultists in Rivers State. To bolster army operations, he announced the donation of land at Omuma and donated 20 patrol vehicles to the Division.
Last Friday, the Governor played host to the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba. The NLC president, who commended Chief Wike for prompt payment of salaries, also sought for improved welfare for workers. But Chief Wike assured him that his administration would do so when once the economy improves, while urging the labour body to close ranks and be more united.
Shortly after receiving the labour body entourage, Chief Wike attended another ceremony by the 6th Division of Nigerian Army to unveil its new leisure house and Army Chief Lodge in Port Harcourt.
Last weekend, he attended the church wedding of daughter to former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Okey Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, held at St Paul’s Catherdal, Diobu.
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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