Politics
LP Tasks INEC, Secrurity Agencies On Fairness
Ahead of the this year’s general elections, the Labour Party has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a level playing field for all political parties fielding candidates for the polls in Rivers State.
Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Rivers State, Isaac Wonwu stated this lastWednesday when he led other candidates of the party on a courtesy call to the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at its Secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Wonwu said he was at the NUJ Secretariat to appreciate the role played by the media in political activities in the state and Nigeria at large, pointing out that the media was invaluable in actualizing democracy in the country.
He further said, “The media has remained the voice of the voiceless. We (Labour Party) attach high importance to the NUJ, hence we are here to appreciate and see how we can partner with the media houses in the Rivers State.
“As a political party in a democratic dispensation journalists have a lot of role to play. We want to believe that working with the NUJ we will be able to enthrone the dividends of democracy,” Wonwu stated,
He said that the party will be non-violent in its activities going into the elections and promised to respect the rules set by INEC and the security agencies, while urging the media to help monitor the activities of the two agencies in order to ensure fairness to all parties.
According to him,“The media has a lot of role to play to checkmate the excesses of the political parties. To checkmate the excesses of the security agencies and INEC in particular. We are appealing that you be our watchword as we pray that INEC and the security agencies will give a level playing ground for all of us to play the game,”
While seeking the partnership of the NUJ in achieving its goals, he said the party will give priority to agriculture development as a measure revenue earner and a source of employment for the teeming youths of the state as well as the provision of basic education for the people.
In his response, the State NUJ Chairman, Stanley Job Stanley welcomed Wonwu and his team to the union’s secretariat saying, “This is the first political party that has deemed it necessary to visit the NUJ,” and thanked him for appreciating the role of the media in the society,
Stanley appealed to political parties aspiring for elective positions to go about their campaigns and the main elections peacefully and urged them see journalist as partners in progress saying the latter is duty bound to cover the elections and inform the public; even as he lauded the party for its programmes.
“I want every stakeholder to ensure that journalists are given adequate protection. I also want to call on INEC to give all the parties a level playing ground. On our part we too we are ready to do what we can to assist those who need our assistance. I welcome you to our secretariat and wish you well in your electioneering campaign,” he said.
The State NUj chairman also said that the media will continue to ensure that democracy thrives in Nigeria, adding that, “We will continue to do our work and we will remain unbiased. I want to assure you that most of my colleagues are professionals and they will go about their duties professionally,” Stanley stated.
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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