Politics
Army Arrests lg Boss, pdp Chieftain In Rivers
Operatives of the Nigerian Army on Saturday arrested Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Council of Rivers State, Mr Tom Aliezi.
A chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the area, Barr. Tubotamuno Dick was also arrested in his unit in Asari Toru LGA.
Aliezi’s arrest was made known in a statement signed by his media aide, Loveday Ihua and made available to newsmen.
The Chairman’s media aide on behalf of the council called for the unconditional release of their principal.
Ihua stated that the LG Chairman was arrested at the council headquarter on Saturday, pointing out that the Army was biased because no reason was given for the arrest of the local government chairman.
The Army is yet to respond to allegations against its personnel during the Governorship and State House of Assembly polls in the crude oil and gas rich state.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Asari Toru LGA, Odiari Princewill said the party in the area will protest release of the results from any ward where election materials were hijacked.
Princewill accused members of the All Progressives Party (APC) in the area of hijacking electoral materials with the aid of military personnel.
He said, “Just after the distribution of materials, the military started intimidating and arresting our people. They started arresting some PDP chieftains in their homes and they are also aiding other party even though we know the APC do not have a candidate.
“But I do not know their connection with the military why they are showing their full presence and hiding under the cover of the military to perpetrate electoral violence.
“They went to some places and snatch electoral materials. Once those areas are identified, definitely we will move for cancellation,” the LG boss stated.
On the arrest of Barr. Dick, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman (CTC) of the area, the PDP Chairman in Asari-Toru LGA, Jerry Amakiri has advised the military against defaming the PDP chieftain (Dick) for alleged misconduct.
It was learnt that military personnels invaded his home, ransacked houses and cars in the compound before whisking the lawyer away from his polling unit near his family compound.
Amakiri in an interview with newsmen in the area accused the military of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area to intimidate PDP members.
He said, “Tubotamuno Dick was just whisked away. They (military) are alleging that he took ballot paper to his house. But we know he is not that kind of person. If they want to kill us they should kill us. We do not know where Nigeria is heading to.
“If we are contesting against the army we will know we are contesting against them. The APC brought the soldiers and they are moving with them. They want to come and snatch our unit which I know I am winning. It cannot happen,” he declared.
Also, an indigene of the area who did not give her name said the election was peaceful before the soldiers arrived.
She said, “The LGA PDP returning agent for PDP, Barr Tubotamuno Dick was whisked off by some uniform military men. After searching and ransacking the houses and cars in that compound they still took him away.
“We do not know what is going on right now. We do not know whether he is alive or not,” the lady worry.
Dennis Naku
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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