Politics
Tinubu Disappointed N’Central, N’West – Buhari’s Aide
The North-Central and Northwest regions of the country are disappointed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, picked former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, from the North-East as his running mate.
A Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Special Intervention, Ismael Ahmed, said this on Wednesday while speaking a live television programme.
Tinubu had at the weekend picked Shettima as his vice presidential candidate after weeks of consultations.
His choice of the serving senator had been greeted with mixed reactions with the Christian community in Nigeria condemning the Lagos State politician for picking a Muslim running mate.
But Ahmed, who is not concerned with the religion of the candidates, said the North- West and North-Central were hoping to get the vice presidential slot, adding that the regions had contributed more votes to the APC than any other region in the country.
“I just came back from Kano yesterday and I know that there are a lot of people who are miffed (for not getting the Vice Presidential slot).
“For example, the Northwest which has the largest voting population of about 20 million upward, six out of the seven governors are members of the APC, five of which are in their second term, none of which contested against the presidential candidate at the convention. The only person, the Jigawa State governor, that bought a form dropped at the last minute and they thought they would pick him.
“A lot of people, rank and file within the party, thought the Northwest could have been considered.
“Some people thought that Northcentral had not had a presidential or vice-presidential candidate in a democratic setting. Even though they have a larger voting population more than the Northeast, they were not considered,” the former senatorial aspirant said.
Ahmed, a former youth leader of the APC, acknowledged that there would always be a complaint notwithstanding who is chosen, adding that the decision to pick Shettima was not an easy one for Tinubu.
He said less emphasis should be placed on the religion of candidates, saying “when Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected as the presidential candidate at the Eagle Square, I am not sure religion was considered.
“I think he was nominated because of how much work and investment he has put in the political and democratic structure in the last 30 years that gave him that edge over his co-contestants not because he is a Muslim.”
He insisted that Tinubu’s choice of Shettima was based on his pedigree and political prowess not mainly because he is a Muslim.
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.
-
Maritime42 minutes agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment
-
News3 hours agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News3 hours agoOsun Guber: Probe Vote-Buying, Violence, SERAP Urges INEC, EFCC, ICPC
-
News3 hours agoArmy Intercepts Courier With 180 Explosives In Zamfara
-
News3 hours ago2027: Adeleke Reaffirms Support For Tinubu, Calls Him Osun Son
-
News3 hours agoNigerian military raises alarm over attempt to hack X account
-
News3 hours agoNiMet predicts three-day cloudy, thundery weather
-
Opinion42 minutes agoWhen Comfort Silences The Truth