Politics
APC Bought A Wrong Player In Ayade – PDP
The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Efiok Cobham, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a strange party in the state and bought a wrong player in Prof. Ben Ayade.
Efiok Cobham made this known at the party secretariat while inaugurating a seven- man committee to fill some vacant positions at the ward level of the party.
The committee has Obol Godwin Eta as Chairman, while Hon. Donatus Etim serves as secretary.
Other members of the committee include, Dr Rose Atsu-Arop, Mrs Ekondua Amaoke, Hon. Emmanuel Etene, Pastor Anthony Effiong and Hon. Ignatius Agabi.
Cobham, who is a former deputy governor of Cross River State, maintained that the defection of the governor was a blessing to the state as the PDP still had the goodwill of the people and will create room for the governor to explain his inadequacies.
“The APC is a strange party in Cross River State and so they are trying to introduce themselves to the people.
“They went to the transfer window and bought a wrong player in Ayade.
“The PDP has won several governorship elections in the state and so we do not need to introduce ourselves to the people.
“The goodwill for the PDP is still as strong as it used to be and the people defecting with the governor are his appointees.
“Socketing is a kind of blessing in the state because it offers room for fresh air and creates an opportunity for the executive to explain its inadequacies”, he said.
He expressed hope that the Godwin Eta committee will help reposition the party.
He also disclosed that the PDP Youth Vanguard which will be inaugurated in the 196 wards of the state will create room for the teeming youths of the state to take up leadership positions.
On his part, Chairman of the Committee, Obol Godwin Eta, commended the party selecting people who are highly experienced.
“We thank you for finding us worthy to serve the state in this capacity and for selecting people who are highly experienced.
“The peace and furtherance of our electoral values will depend on the tactful management of the assignment given us.
“We are going to be very thorough and are going to submit our report with our credibility and integrity intact,” he said.
The seven -man committee has three weeks to submit its report and its terms of reference include, examining all wards and chapter executives of the party as presently constituted.
Others are finding out vacancies that have arisen as a result of resignation/decamping and finding out in consultation with stakeholders suitable replacements
By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
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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