Politics
Wike Hosts More Nigerian Political Leaders
For several weeks now, there has been a steady stream of Nigeria’s top political leaders paying consultative visits to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt.
The most recent was the visit to his country home in Rumueprikom, ObioApor Local Government Area, on Saturday by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Bachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting, Rt. Hon. Dogara said the visit was in the quest for building an all inclusive Nigeria.
He described Governor Wike as an indispensable political leader who has contributed immensely to the political development of the country and whose input to national development can not be ignored.
On his part, the former SGF, BachirLawal said they were in Rivers State on a brotherly visit to Governor Wike, adding that such rapport was needed to foster national cohesion and integration.
It could be recalled that the Rivers State Governor had previously played host to prominent Nigerians such as the former governor of Zamfara State, AbdulazizYari, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Kastina State, Sen Yakubu Danmark Lado, the governorship candidate of PDP in Kano State, Mohammed Abacha.
Others include the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ekiti and Ondo States counterparts, Kayode Fayemi and Rotimi Akeredolu, etc.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike has faulted the comments of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while appearing on Arise TV interview programme, recently.
The Rivers State Chief Executive also condemned what he described as the “unguarded” utterances of some associates of the PDP presidential candidate and some favour seeker against his person, stating that he would not tolerate such disparagement of his personality.
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday, shortly after his return from Spain, Governor Wike pointed out that the PDP Presidential Candidate, AtitkuAbubakar and the National Chairman of the Party, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, had not reached out to him after the presidential primary election in which he keenly contested and emerged second position.
Rather, Governor Wike said Atiku’s men had resorted to casting aspersions on him but he had maintained a dignified silence, adding that he was not aware of any committee set up by Atiku or the PDP to reach out to him.
The Rivers State Governor who emphasized that he had not been a vacillating political character but a consistent, staunch party faithful and stakeholder, cautioned against the antics of “ favour seekers and scavengers” in the PDP, and disclosed that for the sake of posterity and to put the records straight, he would respond to the emerging issues appropriately after the next phase of commissioning of projects in the state.
Governor Wike also condemned a viral report alleging that the Rivers State Government has set up a Marriage Monitoring Task Force in the state, and made it mandatory for a prospective husband to have the sum of N5 million or property worth the amount.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Kelvin Ebri said the Rivers State Government will not hesitate to take necessary legal action against the peddlers of the “ fake news”, if they do not desist from the morally reprehensible act.
By: Beemene Tanee
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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