Politics
Wike Canvasses Establishment Of State-Owned Judicial Institutes … Inaugurates More Projects
As part of measures to strengthen the operations of the Judiciary and quicken the dispensation of justice in Nigeria, the Rivers State Governor , Chief Nyesom Wike, has canvassed the establishment of state-owned Judicial Institutes to complement the role of the National Judicial Institute in the training of judges, magistrates and other judicial workers in the country.
Governor Wike made the call during the inauguration of the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute ( JMOKI) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission, South South Liaison Office in Port Harcourt last Friday.
The inauguration was performed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Governor Wike said the burden of dispensing justice in Nigeria required adroit training and retraining of judicial officers, stating that the establishment of the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute was not intended to usurp the functions of the National Judicial Institute but to fill in the gap by playing complementary roles.
The Rivers State Governor, who donated the sum of N500 million as take-off grant for the institute, called for the amendment of the Judicial Institute Law No. 8 of 2021 establishing the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute to strengthen its operations and enhance its financial independence.
He said the institute was named after Justice Mary Odili, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Rivers extraction for her outstanding contributions to the development of Nigeria with an unblemished record of service.
Governor Wike also, on Wednesday, attended the 2022/23 Legal Year Ceremony held at the Rivers State Judiciary Complex, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Governor Wike disclosed that the Judiciary in Rivers State was at its lowest ebb and faced with major constraints in 2015 when he ascended leadership as Governor of Rivers State, but his administration took up the challenge of providing the necessary support to enable it function effectively.
He explained that the Judiciary in Rivers State is now positioned on a strong footing by leveraging on critical infrastructures provided by his administration, including the building of a campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike also, at the weekend, commissioned the newly constructed Rukpakulusi/ Eliogbolo internal roads.
Addressing the people at the event, Governor Wike said his administration had performed exceedingly well in the delivery of projects in the state. He pointed out that his achievements had humbled his predecessor, former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, who designed pitfalls for his administration but failed.
Governor Wike, who accused Amaechi of failing to attract any project to Rivers State as a minister urged Rivers people to be wary of the antics of the former governor whom he said was hellbent on imposing his business partner, Tonye Cole, as Governor to plunder the state. He said that such plots would be resisted by Rivers people.
He called on Rivers people to vote for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State come 2023 to consolidate on the development strides of his administration.
The governor, in company of the other members of the G5 PDP Governors, also known as the Integrity Governors, also within the week attended the PDP campaign flag off in Abia State.
By: Taneh Beemene
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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