Politics
PDP Leaders Hail Ariolu’s Performance On Infrastructure, Human Capacity Dev
The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Barrister George Ariolu’s owing to his sterling performance in his first one year in office.
Speaking at the council headquarters, Rumuodomaya, member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, described Ariolu’s one year in office as laudable.
He said this when he led a delegation of PDP leaders from Obio/Akpor extraction on a courtesy call to the chairman at the council headquarters, Rumuodomaya, commending Ariolu’s efforts in promoting infrastructure development, human capacity upgrade and tackling touting in the area.
Ogundu, in his speech, commended the chairman for deploying his vast knowledge and experience in administration for the enhancement of quality programmes and policies which had impacted greatly on education and infrastructure.
He eulogised the council boss for his uprightness and steadfastness towards achieving a better Obio/Akpor, commending him for his prudence in management of scarce resources to develop key sectors in the area.
According to him, Ariolu’s one year in office was a clear indication to the good people of Obio/Akpor that he came prepared with a blueprint to develop, reconstruct and transform the area.
Other leaders, who spoke at the sideline of the council headquarters’ inspection,last Wednesday, affirmed the huge impact that Ariolu’s administration has had in the area of security, stating that the local government area was now a safe haven for citizens to live and carry out their businesses.
The leaders stated that Ariolu’s scorecards in his first one year in office have demonstrated his desire to reposition and re-engineer Obio/Akpor to an enviable height to the envy of others, noting that his actions and performance has proved naysayers and agents of destabilisation in the area wrong with his landmark achievements in human capacity development throughout the nooks and crannies of the area.
The Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Barrister George Ariolu, who conducted the leaders round some projects being undertaken by his administration, expressed delight with the visit which he noted is in the interest of the people and will spur his administration to carry out more people-oriented projects.
He used the opportunity to appreciate Rivers State Governor, Chief NyesomWike, for entrusting such a tasking job on him and recognising his administrative capabilities, which is being put to good use for the benefit of the people, acknowledging the roles of the governor in ensuring that he emerged as chairman of Obio/Akpor.
Ariolu equally used the opportunity to appreciate the leaders for the trust and confidence reposed on him during the electioneering period.
He described his achievements as superlative while affirming support of his administration to Wike’s leadership which has transformed the state and placed it in the comity of states in Nigeria.
The leaders, who spoke included, Majority Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency 1, HonMartin ChikeAmaewhule; member, Rivers State House of Assembly representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency II, Hon Michael Chinda; and Deputy Chairman, Rivers State PDP,Chukwuemeka Aaron.
Others includeformer Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Lands, Dr.AnugbumOnuoha; Chairman, PDP, Obio/Akpor Chapter, Hon. ChidiAmadi; PDP Leader, ObioAkpor Constituency 1, Elder Peter Chinwo; PDP Leader,Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Elder Lawrence Amadioha.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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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