Politics
Traditional Rulers Pass Confidence Vote On Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has felicitated with Christians and advised them to extend love to others.
Wike in his Easter message urged the people and residents to make sacrifices that would advance the course of development.
He said Easter exemplifies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save mankind, noting that as individuals, Christians must take into consideration the welfare of others.
Wike assured the good people of Rivers State that he will continue to make sacrifices for the state, defend her interests and ensure that the people always enjoyed good governance.
Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers last Thursday passed a vote of confidence on the state governor for outstanding delivery of people-oriented projects across the state.
The council paid a solidarity visit to the governor, Thursday at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt and praised the governor for his good governance and said the leadership of Wike had improved the lives and welfare of the people.
“Your achievements are legion and for want of space, we cannot enumerate all of them in this address. But suffice it to say, you have done us proud.
“For the achievements and the level of development in every sector of our economy, we jointly and severally move a vote of confidence in you and your government”, the council stated.
Wike commended the traditional rulers for the honour and called on all Rivers people to work for the development of the state wherever they may find themselves.
He said Rivers people must never see themselves as second class citizens, stressing that if there are first class citizens, it would be Rivers people whose resource feed the nation.
Brick House played host to the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar last Tuesday. Atiku who paid a courtesy visit with his team announced his intention to run for the position of president on PDP platform.
He lauded Governor Wike for his enormous contribution and sacrifices to Rivers State and the nation and described Wike as the “great pillar of PDP”.
Atiku who lamented the hardship faced by Nigerians for the past three years said it was as a result of incompetent leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and solicited support of PDP members and well-meaning Nigerians to support his cause to transform the nation.
Wike thanked the aspirant for visiting the state and enjoined him to continue with his wide consultation. The governor stressed the need for PDP presidential aspirants to see the removal of APC Federal Government as the PDP’s overriding interest.
Another major event last week in the government was the swearing-in of four new Judges by the governor.
The governor who performed the ceremony last Monday in the Executive Chamber charged the new Judges to uphold the rule of law and always be fearless in dispensing justice.
Also last week, the governor dissolved two local government Caretaker Committees. The affected local government committees were Khana and Gokana local government areas.
LastThursday, Wike inaugurated the Port Harcourt Water Corporation Board and the Executive Committee of National Arts Festival (NAFEST).
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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