Politics
‘PDP’Il Take Over Imo, Presidency’
Former Zonal Vice Chairman of Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)and ex- Special Adviser to former Governor Ikedi Ohakim on Sanitation and Transport, Barrister Willie Amadi says his party will unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)in the State and at the federal levels in 2019 general elections.
Amadi who spoke with The Tide recently accused the APC of misleading Nigerians, stressing that PDP has learnt its lessons and is poised for a comeback that will unseat APC at federal and state levels come 2019
He regretted that the political situation in Nigeria was undergoing painful changes against expectations and loss of instant success as promised by the ruling APC, adding that the people want good governance translated to rapid economic growth or Direct Foreign Investment to stimulate the economy.
The Former Special Adviser explained that the people need good and affordable housing, infrastructural improvements, improved medical and educational system, and welfare of the work- force to encourage productivity and above all, food on the table of poor Nigerians.
According to him,” hunger does not know political affiliation or divide, adding that Nigerians do not expect magic from Buhari’s administration within two years.
”The campaign promises by a coalition of parties that was desperate to change the government of President Jonathan’s led PDP government had no surety to pay cost in case of default. The masses and voters did not realise that they were the surety for future failure as currently being experienced by the rich, middle class and the poor masses”, he said.
He expressed happiness that the internal crisis in PDP before now has normalised things and brought healthy situation among the members of the party.
According to him, ”the internal crisis has no doubt brought the best after the struggle for supremacy, adding that it sharpen and redefines the very existence of the party by dotting the Is and crossing the Ts. Without crises, new frontiers would not have been identified and as a result the party has produced a draft amended constitution which removed the pitfalls in the constitution exploited by a faction during the crises”.
He said the frontiers would further position the party for future challenges that may occur and preview future development in management and operations of the party, stating that it has made the party stronger, bonded those who are PDP in body and spirit.
Amadi suggested that the genuinely aggrieved members should be consoled, appreciated and brought back to the family because “politics is let us go and not let me go”.
Amadi said his plans to contest the aborted National Covention of the PDP in Port Harcourt last two years was to fight the deliberate imbalance foisted on Owerri Federal Constituency by the evil minds that denied the entire Owerri Municipal Council and Owerri West Local Government of any position.
He warned that for the PDP to take over from Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2019, its leaders and members should be sincere to the party and should call their lieutenants and foot soldiers to order and rapidly redress the areas of deliberate and obvious injustice.
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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