Politics
PDP Wants Osun APC Secretariat Shut Over Violence
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Nigeria Police Force and other sister security agencies to close down the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat over the violence that erupted on Saturday during the appeal committee sitting.
This is as the PDP has alleged that the APC secretariat has become a place of war instead of party administration, adding that the call had become imperative so as to de-escalate the violence and commotion that had been associated with the APC ward congress and appeal.
Making the call, the party in a press statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Ayodeji Areola yesterday in Osogbo stated that the PDP was alarmed by the turn of events in the APC where a ward congress became unmanageable with attendant violence.
It stated that the party was not surprised because the democratic management of party affairs is alien to the APC which has resulted in the state being portrayed as the nation’s capital of negativity due to a ward congress degenerating to a dangerous level.
Expressing dismay at the failure of the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, to effectively manage the APC supporters, the party disclosed that the people of Osun had resigned to fate in the face of his unarguable cluelessness in managing state affairs.
It wondered whether violence remained the only dividend reserved for Osun and how the state governor could be at peace with the level of violence unleashed on the state by the factionalised state APC, adding that the disregard for human lives was alarming.
The statement called on the warring factions in the APC to sheathe their swords in the interest of Osun people as the level of panic as a result of the sporadic gunshots by party thugs at the Ogo-Oluwa area of the state capital and other parts of the state on Saturday was sickening and condemnable.
“It is sad that economic activities in these areas were forcefully flagged down as people have to close shops to avoid falling victims of rampaging APC thugs and their bullets. It is indeed a sad turn of events in our dear state,” it read.
Osun PDP, while offering to assist the warring factions in the APC with civilised modes of approaching domestic issues in a political party, also sympathised with victims of the internal party crisis.
“We admonish the suffering masses not to cave into dejection at this time as the four-year ‘Remote Controlled’ regime is fast running out.
“Residents are instead advised to arm themselves with voter cards in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in steady preparation to reverse the gear of the current shenanigans and reshape the state into a productive path,” it said.
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.