Politics
Rivers Assembly Reconvenes, Sept
One plenary session hallmarked activities at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RVHA) last week.
Of the 32-member legislature, only 14 lawmakers were present at the plenary where they resolved to commence their 2017 recess. This followed a motion to that effect by the House Chief Whip, Hon Evans Bipi, which was supported by the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon Michael Chinda.
Moving the motion, Hon Bipi explained the need for the House to embark on recess, saying that the House has met the statutory number of sittings for the year.
He said the vacation was to enable members retire to their various constituencies to brief their Constituents on government activities so far.
Supporting the motion, Hon Chinda said members needed the recess to re-energise and or out other pressing issues in their various constituencies.
Announcing the commencement of the recess, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi –Owaji Ibani said the vacation was to commence just after the plenary and that members shall resume on September 21, 2017.
He said the decision was to give members enough time to refresh themselves for the remaining legislative assignments in the year.
He also said that the recess would also enable various House Committees to tidy up their assignments and prepare their reports for deliberations before the House resumes from the vacation.
The House finally resolved that members should go for break to resume work on September 21, 2017.
The Speaker had before the plenary announced his Appeal Court victory to the House.
Ibani, who thanked members of the House for their support and prayers during the period , said without the love and the understanding of the members, it would have been very stressful to combine the leadership assignment in the House with the matter at the tribunal.
Ibani, who commended the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for standing firm by him, dedicated the victory to Andoni people whose mandate he noted have been confirmed by the tribunal.
The speaker reassured that he will never make empty promises to the people because the Wike administration was built on transparency and commitment to the development of the state.
The Speaker who also announced his 50th birthday by last Wednesday, August 23, 2017, said he gave God all the glory and adoration for spicing his birthday with the Appeal Court victory.
Also last Tuesday, the Speaker played host to members of the Assembly press corps who visited him in his office to congratulate him on his Appeal Court victory.
Speaking on behalf of press corps, Comrade Alwell Ene expressed joy over the Appeal Court judgement.
Ene prayed God to give him strength to pilot the affairs of the House to the glory of God and for the benefit of people of the state.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani thanked the press corps for their concern, reassuring that the Assembly will continue to work with journalists in the state to adequately inform the public on government policies and actions.
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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