Politics
Senator Urges Renewed Fight Against Corruption
Senator Isaac Alfa(PDP-Kogi) has stressed the need for the Federal Government to redouble efforts at fighting corruption and overhauling the Nigeria Police for greater efficiency in protection of lives and property of Nigerians.
Alfa, a former Chief of Air Staff, gave the advice at a news briefing in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said: “The police as constituted presently is not only undisciplined right down the line, police officers are inadequately trained.
“The Police Service Commission as presently constituted is absolutely powerless.
“If the Police is up and doing, we will not need the State Security Service to go after judges, we will not need the military to secure elections.
“Also, lawyers will not charge hundreds of millions or billions to compromise the judges who are representatives of Almighty God on earth.”
Alfa, who was recently reinstated in the senate after a three and half years of legal battle, said there was also need for “surgical operations in several areas if Nigeria is to achieve economic growth exponentially”.
According to him, his victory after a long battle is an indication that the country still has sincere and hardworking persons.
“My case went through 34 judges and I won 10 out of 11 judgments; with the only one won by my opponent reversed by the same Appeal Court.
“I never gave a Kobo to any Judge in my three and half years ordeal.
“I know that no system is perfect, but there are some Nigerian judges today that are absolutely incorruptible. God passed my case through many of them and may God bless them”.
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki swore-in Alfa on Tuesday to replace Sen. Ali Atai Aidoko who got sacked by the court barely three months to the end of the 8th National Assembly.
The lawmaker while expressing his appreciation to God for vindicating him at last, said he bore no grudge against anybody over his travails.
Alfa also thanked the senate leadership for upholding justice, saying “it has never been about what I can benefit personally from the Senate”.
“By the special grace of Almighty God, I rose to become the Chief of Air Staff, the largest in Africa, and one of the most operationally powerful today.
“I was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council which collectively was then number three after the Head of State and Chief of General Staff.
“So, Senate was a service to my people, bringing this large tribe to where it ought to stay.
“Yes, the battle to retain my mandate was not easy especially when I had to fund the litigation from my pocket with absolutely with no help from anywhere.
“Every politician knows that political litigation is not cheap. But I was determined so that my people’s decision must count whenever they decide to field their choice.
“This is so that nobody should come from outside by any other name to impose their decision on us.
“Now, my people feel liberated and are encouraged to insist on their choice as I have shown that with God on your side, the Judiciary will give you justice”, he said.
He expressed optimism that the country would work again if due attention is given to critical sectors of the economy, and productivity is maximised.
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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