Politics
Wike Flags Off More Projects
Last week, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike rolled out more projects across the state.
Wike stormed Etche Local Government Area on Wednesday to flag off Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road and said the 23.3 kilometers road will link rural communities in Etche and expand economic opportunities of the people.
Noting that the road was the fifth major road project in Etche by his administration, Wike said: “This is to show that politics must not be deceitful. If you make promise, you are under obligation to fulfil the promise”.
He said the project was in fulfilment of the promise he made to Etche people, describing Etche as key and important to Rivers State.
Wike regretted that Etche was relegated by past administrations and promised the commitment of his administration to reposition the area.
The governor also flagged-off the reconstruction of Eleme-Oyigbo Road in Alesa-Eleme, Eleme Local Government Area last Thursday.
According to the State Commissioner for Works, Mr Dum Dekor, the 11:5 kilometer road which could provide 540 direct employment opportunities has nine months to be completed.
Wike who commended the people of the area for their mandate and strong support to his administration, said the project was the dividend of their electoral mandate and promised to visit the area with more projects.
He charged Nigerians to hold elected and appointed political leaders accountable to them and refuse to accept excuses for failure.
He said: “My charge to Nigerians is that they must hold all public officials accountable. In 2019, before anyone campaigns, he must first show what he has done with his present office.
“Gone are the days when people listened to flimsy excuses. This is not the time for empty promises”.
The governor equally flagged off the reconstruction of Oyigbo Market Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area on Friday.
He also kick-started the construction of TAP to Iriebe Road and declared that time has come for the people of the area to witness the full transformational power of his administration.
Governor Wike stated that “aside these two road projects being flagged off, today, the Mbano Camp to Iriebe Road is nearing completion”.
In continuation of his project rollout across the state, Governor Wike was in Omuma Local Government Area, Saturday to flag-off the reconstruction of Umueze-Umuogba- Umuokpurukpu-Umueke-Umunju-Umuellechi-Eberi Road project.
The governor who had on some occasions stated that Omuma was one of the few local government areas that needed to benefit from projects said Omuma would continue to benefit because of their contribution to his administration.
He remarked that his administration had linked the area to the National Grid and commended the member representing Omuma in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Kelechi Nwogu for his contribution and commitment to his administration.
Governor Wike last Tuesday told journalists that he will never betray the trust of Rivers people. He stated this while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of Tourist Beach, the cultural centre, Captain Amangala Street, Produce House and Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty projects.
He said; “The love of the people who gave me their mandate is enough motivation for me to work hard”.
Another major event, last week in government house, Port Harcourt was the hosting of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni women who had paid the Brick House Landlord a thank you visit in appreciation of his restoration of peace in the area.
The group lauded Governor Wike for his superlative performance in the state and pleaded with the governor to seek re-election.
Caretaker Committee Chairmen of some local government areas were also sworn in by governor Wike last week in Government House.
Chris Oluoh
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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