Politics
PDP Raises Alarm As INEC Begins Appointment Of Electoral Officers
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO), yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair in the process of appointing electoral officers for the conduct of elections at various levels.
Kola Ologbondiyan, PDPCO spokesman, in a statement called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to ensure that the process of appointing electoral officers is transparent.
The PPCO also insisted that members of the Buhari Media Group (BMG) and other APC support groups, hiding under the N-Power programme of the Buhari administration, must not be allowed to participate as electoral officers in any capacity and at any level in the general elections.
The PPCO further insisted that names of all electoral officers at all levels must be made public ahead of the elections, for all stakeholders to assess the neutrality of such officers in their respective constituencies.
The statement added: “We invite the INEC Chairman to note that we are aware that Mrs. Amina Zakari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s relation by marriage in INEC, is already coordinating compromised lecturers and other partisan individuals that will pander to her ploys to manipulate the Presidential election.
“The PPCO therefore demands that the process must be checked and conducted with strict compliance with the assurances of the INEC Chairman, that it will be credible and transparent.
“It is important to state that our party is not in the arena of conflict with INEC but as a political party and critical stakeholder in the 2019 elections, we have the responsibility to point out pitfalls that can endanger the electoral process and lead to a slide into chaos.
“The PDP is a responsible political party. Our members, followers and teeming supporters cut across all the 120,000 polling units in our nation. The PDP, therefore is a major stakeholder in the 2019 general election and even beyond.
“As such, INEC should stop engaging the PDP and other political parties as if we are enemies. The commission must consider all propositions and objections pointed out by the PDP and other opposition parties as measures that will foster free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
“The PPCO notes that since the INEC Chairman, has said that Mrs. Amina Zakari has no role in the collation of results, we consequently restate our demand that she be exempted from any form of electoral role in these elections.
“Already, the public space is filled with the insistence that, given the confession by President Muhammadu Buhari that Mrs. Amina Zakari is his relation by marriage, she must, as a matter of necessity, be exempted from any electoral function in order to avert a conflict of interest bordering on partisanship,
“We call on the United Nations, the European Union and all democratic institutions across the world to rise and appeal to the INEC Chairman to in the interest of peace exempt Amina Zakari from the exercise, as any election conducted with her participation in INEC cannot be anything credible.
“The PPCO restates that the PDP and our Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as well as all our candidates in all the elections at all levels are ready and set for the elections.
“Our Presidential candidate is vigorously campaigning across the nooks and crannies of our country consolidating on the consensus already attained by Nigerians across the divides to elect him as the next President of our beloved country, following the failures, manifest incompetence and corruption of the Buhari administration.”
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.
-
News2 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
Maritime2 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News2 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News2 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News2 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime2 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment