Politics
Rivers State Has Focused Leadership – Akawor
The Rivers State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, says the State now has focused leadership under Chief Nyesom Wike
Akawor made the remark when he played host to over five pro- PDP groups that visited him at the party secretariat, Monday, to congratulate him on the successful election and inauguration of the state executive of the PDP.
The groups were Wike Solidarity Movement, WSM, led by the Director General, Prince Sudor Nwiyor, PDP Ex- Councillors Forum, led by its National Coordinator, Prince Welly weli Wosu and Port Harcourt Significant Girls Initiative, led by the Convener, Miss Nengi Ibifuro Jumbo. Others were Governor’s Liaison Officers in the 319 wards, led by Aaron Jaja Godwin, Group of PDP Returnees from Khana and Eleme, coordinated by former Health Commissioner, Dr Sampson Parker and executive members of the National Union of Rivers State Student, NURSS, led by the Vice President, Elvis Gogo.
Receiving members of WSM, State Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor said Governor Nyesom Wike had made Rivers people proud by fulfilling the promises made during the electioneering campaigns.
Ambassador Akawor noted that the slogan of the group, “Promise Made, Promise Kept”, was in tandem with the Governor’s philosophy and commended Wike Solidarity Movement for supporting the governor.
“It is a very good story today for us to rejoice because in those days we didn’t know where we were heading to, but people like you decided to come up with a name that “Promises Made Promise kept”. I don’t know what you had in mind then but I strongly believe that the promises have been fulfilled” Ambassador Akawor said.
On projects delivery, Ambassador Desmond Akawor said he is yet to know of any state in the country that is constructing six flyover bridges under two years, urging members of the PDP in the state not to make unnecessary mistake ahead of the 2023 election but assist the governor to achieve a hitch-free transition.
Earlier the Director General of Wike Solidarity Movement, WSM, Prince Sudor Nwiyor said they were at the party secretariat to congratulate Ambassador Akawor- led PDP State Executive and thanked Governor Wike for considering members of the group in the scheme of things.
Prince Sudor Nwiyor who praised the PDP Chairman for his exemplary leadership qualities, said this had resulted in the return of high profile politicians from the APC to the PDP.
“Our Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor is always known for victory. His election as the state
PDP chairman did not come to us as a surprise because he has worked and shown capacity and it
was time for him to come and carry the party at the state level”.
“Your Excellency, we have come to say that we are happy with the level of work you have done for
the PDP in Rivers State. In few months you have stayed as the party chairman we have witnessed so
many defections and not just defections but people of great high calibre from APC to PDP, and from
the way you are going, we are very sure that in the next few months, the Minister of Transport will
even come to our great party” Prince Nwiyor asserted.
Meanwhile the state PDP Chairman Ambassador Desmond Akawor has told members of PDP Ex
Councillor forum that as the closest to the people at grassroots they were expected to mobilise the
people during the forth coming Local Government election in the state.
Ambassador Akawor also told them to support the party towards ensuring that PDP wins the 23
Local Government Chairmanship seats as well as the 319 wards in the state.
He also told them to support the governor to ensure a smooth transition in 2023 by refusing to align
with anyone with governorship ambition.
The PDP Chairman equally advised members of the Port Harcourt Significant Girls Initiative not to be
distracted by those who use social media space to blackmail them in order to dissuade them from
achieving their goals in life, saying that the PDP is interested in seeing young girls who are ready to
participate actively in politics assuring that the party would support them to achieve their aim.
He equally advised members of the National Union of Rivers State Students, NURSS to always
embrace dialogue in resolving grievances rather than confrontation.
Ambassador Akawor who promised to relay the demands for the payment of bursary made by the
students to the State Chief Executive, warned them against involvement in unwholesome activities.
Addressing a delegation of APC decampees led by Mich Nwidoobie, Ambassador Akawor assured
them of equal opportunities in the party.
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.
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