Politics
2023: PDP Returnee Collapses APC Structure For Ugwuanyi
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Mr. Evans Ikpechukwu Omeje, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017, has formally returned to the PDP.
He vied for the seat of Nsukka East Constituency in the State House of Assembly in 2019, as APC candidate.
Mr. Omeje, who is from Ede-Ukwu Ward, Ede-Oballa in Nsukka Local Government Area of the State, announced his return to the PDP amid jubilation, at the Ede-Ukwu Ward office of the PDP, on Wedbesday, where he addressed the ward executives and other stakeholders of the party.
Describing the PDP as “my mother party”, Mr. Omeje disclosed that he rejoined the PDP because of the peace and good governance initiatives of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and the quest to join hands with the adherents of the governor’s focused and people-oriented administration to strengthen his leadership trajectory in the state and the party, ahead of 2023 general elections.
He added that his decision to return to the PDP was also borne out of his desire to support and join forces with the leadership of the party in Ede-Ukwu Ward, Ede-Oballa community and Nsukka Local Government Area, to ensure that the governor’s political directions in respect of 2023 general elections, are accomplished to the letter.
The former APC chieftain explained that he left the PDP earlier with hundreds of his teeming supporters because of the way the past leadership of the ward treated them, stressing that “now that the person in question, a Commissioner then, who came and scattered some of us, has left to join a group working against the interest of our governor, the PDP, Nsukka people and Ndi Enugu, I have returned with my followers to help mobilize and strengthen the PDP in this ward, Ede-Oballa community, Nsukka LGA and Enugu State in general”.
Mr. Omeje, who was re-registered as a member of PDP Ede-Ukwu Ward, and re-issued the party membership card, announced that he has collapsed his APC structure to PDP, declaring their unflinching support and loyalty to the state leadership under Governor. Ugwuanyi.
The returnee equally pledged loyalty to the State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, PDP leader in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, Chief Engr. Vita Abba, the Chairman of Nsukka LGA, Hon. Barr. Walter Ozioko, and the leadership of the party in Nsukka LGA and Ede-Ukwu Ward.
His words: “Let me assure our governor who is the leader of the PDP in the state and South East that all those who left, we will bring them back to the PDP, including others who were aggrieved because of our erring brother who has gone to join a politician from another senatorial zone to challenge our brother and our governor.
“We will bring them back, so that the PDP will be one in Ede-Ukwu Ward and Nsukka LGA. I am saying that all these people have agreed to follow Gburugburu (Ugwuanyi) because he is our leader.
“I thank my people who held the PDP up till today because it is not easy. All the things that went wrong, which the present leadership of the ward is correcting, we will assist in correcting them so that everybody will be one; so that PDP will be one in Ede-Ukwu Ward; so that we will all follow Gburugburu in actualizing his mission”.
Receiving the returnee and some of his followers, the Chairman of Ede-Ukwu Ward, Solomon Asogwa, on behalf of the ward, appreciated God who he said “brought our son, our brother and our father, Mr. Ikpechukwu Omeje back to our great Party, PDP”.
Asogwa said that it was a thing of joy that “this great man returned to the PDP”, adding that he worked hard for the party in the past and was a strong opposition to the PDP when he was in APC “but PDP still conquered them”.
“So now he is back to PDP, PDP will still conquer ahead, ahead.’’
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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