Politics
We Have Kept Faith With Good Governance In Rivers -Wike
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says his administration has kept faith with good governance in the State, having fulfilled all the promises he made to Rivers people.
Speaking at an event held at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, tagged “11th Hour Home Coming”, to receive decampees from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, last Saturday, Governor Wike said the PDP remained the only political party that could win elections in the state.
Governor Wike said the interest of Rivers State had remained paramount to his administration as he had refused to yield to any form of blackmail and intimidation from any quarters but had worked hard to protect the state and recovered key property and belongings of the state.
He pointed out that the track record of achievements of the PDP-led administration in Rivers State was overwhelming, as those seeking elective positions on other political platforms in Rivers State were doing so in the name of contesting election without any hope of winning.
Governor Wike, who congratulated the decampees and welcomed them back into the PDP fold, commended their decisions and stated that it was time to collectively build a solid foundation for the incoming administration in the state.
He advised Rivers people to be wary of “big men” who alienate themselves from the people but are hellbent on dictating the political fortunes of the state from Abuja, and urged all PDP faithful in Rivers State to be involved in grassroots mobilisation at the unit levels to deliver all candidates of the party in the state.
Governor Wike also, within the week under review, inaugurated the three satellite campuses of the Rivers State University at Etche, Emohua and Ahoada, respectively.
Addressing the people during the inauguration of the new Faculty of Agriculture of the Rivers State University at Etche, on Tuesday, Governor Wike said the vision was to expand access to education in the state and bring development to the grassroots.
He commended the management of the Rivers State University for delivering the project in record time and for providing unbroken academic activities in the institution despite the over six months of ASUU strike that has grounded academic activities in universities across the country.
The governor given also stated that Rivers State electoral votes can no longer be traded away without commensurate rewards and lamented the dearth of federal projects in the state despite the huge contributions of the state to the development of the nation.
Inaugurating the Emohua and Ahoada campuses of the Rivers State University on Wednesday and Thursday, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, described Governor Wike as a man of great vision and passion to develop Rivers State and urged the people of Rivers State to support him.
Similarly, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Friday inaugurated the remodelled Community Secondary School, Obuama (Harry’s Town) in Degema Local Government Area.
Speaking during the event, Fayose expressed deep admiration over Governor Wike’s effort in building critical infrastructure to improve the standard of living of the people.
On the internal schisms in the PDP, Fayose blamed the ongoing conflicts in the party on the antics of some people close to the Presidential Candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar, who turned on the heat through blackmail and other sycophantic schemes.
He pointed out that Governor Wike had made tremendous contributions to the party, which could not be waved aside, adding that he (Wike) represents the face of internal democracy and equity in the party.
He called on those causing disaffection in the PDP to desist from the act while the imperatives of justice should be adhered to in the party.
By: Beemene Taneh
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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