Politics
Wazobia Market Organises Victory Party For Wike
Wazobia Market, situated at Eleme Junction near Agofure Park, Rumuokwurusi in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, last Tuesday organised a victory
party to celebrate the reelection of the governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike in the 2019 General Elections.
Speaking at the sideline of the event, the Chairman of Wazobia Marekt, Chief Hope Utchay said that members of the market are happy that Governor Wike was re-elected and so decided to hold the victory party to celebrate it.
He said that members ofWazobia Market supported Wike’s re-election, saying that no les than four thousand persons do business in the market.
Utchay who is also chairman of the Forum of former Councillors and Supervisors in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area said that those who do business in the market are from Eastern and Northern Nigeria among other parts in the country, adding that they all supported the re-election of Governor Wike.
He said that projects executed by Governor Wike impacted on the lives of northerners and other non-indigenes residing in Rivers State.
Utchay said: “The Wazobia Market is organizing a victory party for Governor Wike and I can say we are the first market in Rivers State who are celebrating his victory and appreciating him. Governor Nyesom Wike has done so many projects in Rivers State which the northerners and other non-indigenes who dwell in Rivers State have also benefitted” .
He thanked the people of the state and non-indigenes for supporting Governor Wike to victory in this year’s general elections.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Wazobia Market has appealed to the Rivers State Government to check the activities of illegal revenue collectors in the market and other markets in the state.
He also appealed to the Rivers State Government and Obio/ Akpor local government Council to take action on those who sell goods on a tarred road in Eleme Junction.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chairman of Wazobia Market, Alhaji Auwalu Iliyasu, said that members of Wazobia Marekt are happy that Governor Wike won the governorship election in the state.
On her part, the Chairlady of Wazobia Market, Ifeoma Nwankwo expressed confidence that Governor Wike will govern the state very well even in his second term.
The Secretary of the market, Lawal Dauda, who also spoke said that members of the Market are pleased with Governor Wike’s victory and wished him success in his new administration.
He appealed to Governor Wike to continue to carry out projects and also provide security and financial assistance for markets in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
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.
-
News7 hours agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
News7 hours agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News7 hours agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News7 hours agoOsun Guber: Probe Vote-Buying, Violence, SERAP Urges INEC, EFCC, ICPC
-
News7 hours ago2027: Adeleke Reaffirms Support For Tinubu, Calls Him Osun Son
-
Maritime4 hours agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment
-
Maritime4 hours agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
News7 hours agoNiMet predicts three-day cloudy, thundery weather