Politics
Consequences Await Any Party Without Southern Presidential Candidate – PANDEF
Dire and unpleasant consequences await any political party that fails to produce a presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general election from the southern part of Nigeria.
This is the position of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Afenifere and elements of the Middle Belt under the Middle Belt Forum.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, the National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Hon. Ken Robinson disclosed that the groups have reached a consensus to mete out punitive measures against any political party that would not float a southern presidential candidate in next year’s general elections in the country.
Hon. Robinson said it was “completely unacceptable” that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari from the northern region, any political party in the country would consider another northerner to succeed him in office as leader of the country, adding that it was in the interest of fairness, equity and justice that the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum decided to insist on a power shift to the South.
“Any political party in Nigeria that does not zone its presidency to southern Nigeria, the people of southern Nigeria will mobilize and work against that party. That’s our position”, he said.
According to Hon. Robinson who is also the Acting Coordinator of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, “PANDEF is actually working with Afenifere from the south west, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the south east, and elements of the Middle Belt under the Middle Belt Forum.
“We want to believe that they are together with us in all that we have said because these pronouncements have been made under the auspices of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum comprising these aforementioned organisations.
“We have said that if any of the major political parties in the country does not zone its presidential ticket to the South, we are going to work against that party. The position we have taken is that we will wait until the party primaries are concluded”.
Upon the conclusion of the primaries, he said, the groups will meet and review the outcomes of the exercises before taking a final decision on how to respond to the choices made by the parties.
“After the party primaries are concluded, we will see the choices that are presented to us and if one of the two parties (the PDP and APC) gives us a southern presidency and the other does not, we will sit down and discuss to see how we can mobilize and ensure that southern Nigeria punishes the party that is against us”, he emphasised.
According to the national spokesman of PANDEF, only a power shift to southern Nigeria will address the strong feeling of alienation, injustice and domination among the people of southern Nigeria, adding that sensitivity and appropriate action on the part of the northerners will steer the country away from further crisis and anarchy.
By: Opakamaba Dokubo
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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