Politics
PPCO Drums Support For Atiku
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) has urged Nigerians to carefully vote for a presidential candidate that would create jobs, develop the economy and promote national unity.
A PPCO Spokesperson, Mr Segun Sowunmi, while addressing journalists on Saturday in Abuja, said Nigerians should understand that democracy had offered them great opportunity to choose a competent leader.
“If we choose a bad leader we will live with the consequences, if we elect a good leader, we will enjoy the benefits.
“I pray and admonish Nigerians to go with a leader that is hoping and pushing to create jobs, unite the country, open up the country’s economy for more capacity, growth and make more funds available.
“Let us vote for a leader who is ready to secure the country and desires to listen to issues that cause agitations, to find ways to resolve them, restructure our country and give every section of Nigeria the ability to develop fast.
“Let us vote for a leader who will carry himself as national leader of all Nigerians. That is what the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar represents at the moment.’’
Sowunmi said that Nigerians must be willing, prepared and determined to do everything possible to elect a visionary leader.
“ How can they be saying Nigeria is the world headquarters of poverty in the world? How can we be killing ourselves?
“The only thing about election is that it gives us the opportunity to elect leaders that will develop the country.
“As citizens, we should take our civic responsibilities of getting our Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), making ourselves available to vote, asking questions and demanding for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.’’
Sowunmi urged Nigerians to vote for Abubakar, describing him as an unusual type of leader with the capacity to create jobs, address insecurity, disunity and other challenges confronting the country.
He said Abubakar was running on a purpose of national unity to address issues of disunity among citizens.
Sowunmi said that over the years, Abubakar had become a pan-Nigerian, who was related to every ethnic group in the country either by birth, marriage, business or traditional tittles.
He said that Abubakar would also focus on issues of securing the country’s borders and promoting dialogues to address the issue of famers-herdsmen clash.
He added that Abubakar’s administration would also put in place an agricultural credit facility as insurance to cover farmers’ losses in the event that cattle destroyed farmers’ crops.
Sowunmi added that Abubakar also believed in restructuring of the security architecture in a way that would promote intelligence gathering and making the country’s security agencies proactive in protecting the country.
“Abubakar is going to do a complete over-haul of the security by determining whether the security agencies have enough equipment and effective mode of operation.
“He is going to determine whether their salaries and emoluments are encouraging to ensure that the country does not continue to lose its security men daily.’’
He added that an Abubakar led government would ensure that citizens had a verifiable address for easy location to curb crimes.
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