Politics
Group Alleges Anambra Govt’s Interference In Ogbaru Federal Constituency Result
The League of Ogbaru Professionals (LOP), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the winner of February 25 elections in Ogbaru Federal Constituency.
The socio-political group from Ogbaru area of Anambra State has expressed worry over the delay in the release of the results and pronouncement of a winner in the said election.
Chairman of the League of Ogbaru Professionals,Dr. Charles Ezekude, disclosed the group’s worry over the continuous delay of the declaration of the winner by INEC in a statement made available to journalists in Awka, yesterday.
Ezekude urged INEC not to drag its reputation to the mud by confirming the alleged statement of Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, Mr Chinedu Nwoye.
“We are worried by ceaseless boasts by top officials of the Anambra State Government that it would snatch the Ogbaru Federal Constituency seat from the Labour Party Candidate, Mr Afam Ogene.
“A trending video, made by Mr. Nwoye, has shown that the State Government declared that “as at today, as declared by INEC, APGA has four seats and one is inconclusive, the Ogbaru Federal Constituency (and) APGA is leading as at today.”
Ezekude said “I wonder where Soludo’s Deputy Chief of Staff got the figures to suggest that APGA was in the lead of undeclared results.
Ezekude said “Until we cried out against the interference by the Anambra State Government couple of days ago which necessitated a directive from INEC headquarters, Abuja, for a diligent re-collation of polling unit results, the Labour Party candidate is comfortably ahead of APGA and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“In fact, from the Local terference, the Labour Party had 10,339 votes, as against 9,125 votes garnered by APGA, and 8,971 by the PDP.
“One is, therefore, at a loss as to how Nwoye, not being an INEC staff, is able to proclaim, authoritatively, that APGA was now in the lead.
“There is definitely something Gov. Soludo and his officials know about the Ogbaru Federal Constituency seat, that the rest of us, especially Ogbaru people, do not know.
“Let it be on record that the people of Ogbaru who invested their trust and votes on the Labour Party, would not stand idly by while strangers attempt to hijack their collective will.
“While we wait on the electoral body to do what is right, we urge Gov. Soludo to rein in his officials, who appear bent on tarnishing his hard-earned reputation,” Ezekude said, adding that the group has once again, called on INEC not to compromise its stand on equity, justice and fairness.
In a swift response, Mr Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to Soludo, described the allegations as false.
Aburime said that the governor is too busy with state activities to meddle with INEC duties as that is not his details.
He said that it is a natural belief that every political party in contest would claim to be a winner till the final results are declared by INEC
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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