Politics
2023: Opobo GDI Begins Door-To-Door Campaign For PDP Candidates In Rivers
Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, a political pressure group in Rivers State, the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, says it has commenced a door–to-door campaign initiated by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara and other candidates of the party, describing it as the best way the PDP would mobilise the Rivers electorate towards winning the polls.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt after her National Working Committee (NWC) end-of-year meeting and signed by the Deputy Coordinator, Senibo Emeka John Africa and Secretary, Senibo Chidi Stewart respectively, the grassroots mobilising group urged members to key into the door-to-door campaign strategy of the party and ensure that Rivers electorate are properly sensitised on the need to support and vote for PDP at the polls.
GDI, in the statement, said:
‘’This is time to work for our great leader, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his running mate, Prof Ngozi Ordu and other great leaders of this state and country. Their legacies and achievements here in Port Harcourt speak volumes for these individuals.
“But we will not sit down and expect this to work. We have to stand and reach out to people around us and convince them why they must support and vote for PDP in the slated 2023 general polls. We have so much trust in Fubara, his running mate, Prof Ordu and other candidates of our party, and we are confident that they would not fail us and Nigerians if we all rise up and mobilise and give them the needed support they desire to emerge as winner’’.
Meanwhile, the group has hailed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State over the recent appointment of Alabo-Elect Chris Finebone as Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state.
The group said: Doubtlessly, the true leader in Chris Finebone has compelled him to take deliberate actions that have positively and radically impacted the course of programmes in the politics of Rivers State and Nigeria as erstwhile spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the oil-rich state and now Commissioner for Information and Communications.
‘‘The avalanche of challenges Finebone had courageously taken has brought many achievements in the past under his leadership.’’
The body, therefore, thanked the governor for bringing Chris Finebone on board to showcase his sterling leadership quality to bear in the state as information mouth piece of the state, describing the appointment as ‘‘well deserved’’.
The GDI also used the opportunity to admonish the Commissioner, who they described as ‘‘doyen of exemplary and qualitative leadership, full of vigor, wisdom, charisma and doggedness,’’ to deliver on purposeful governance.
It urged him to be worthy ambassador of Opobo Kingdom and Ijaw nation by bringing his wealth of leadership experience and acumen to bear while praying God for good health, agility and divine protection in the corridors of power under the watch of Governor Nyesom Wike.
By: Bethel Toby
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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