Politics
Ohanaze Ndigbo Endorses Diri In Bayelsa Poll
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State Chapter, on Monday endorsed the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for a second term.
The Tide gathered this at a meeting convened by the group in Yenagoa, the State capital, in which the leadership of the group said though the group is apolitical, they have resolved to work with the incumbent administration of the state governor, Senator Diri, and his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, due to their track record of achievements in the past three years in office.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after their meeting, the national financial Secretary of the Ohanaze Ndigbo Youth wing (Worldwide), Hon. Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, said the unity of Igbos in the state was paramount, noting that though there were leadership crises which has hitherto rocked the state Chapter of the group, the national Secretariat of the Ohanaze Ndigbo has waded in and has therefore accorded recognition to the Mr Ekwem Remitus-led chapter of the Ohanaze Ndigbo in the state upon fulfilling the mandatory requirements for registration.
“As a National Executive of the Ohanaze Ndigbo Youth wing (worldwide) and the South-South coordinator of the Ohanaze Ndigbo Youth wing, I told the leadership of the body here in the state that I’ll not work with any unregistered group or affiliate body of the Ohanaze Ndigbo until they’re registered with a proof.
“However, while the Mr Onuma Johnson’s led faction of the Ohanaze Ndigbo went about parading itself without registration even after being suspended, the other group led by Mr Ekwem Remitus was able to secure registration by the national Secretariat of the Ohanaze Ndigbo, and so I’ll like to work with them.
“I’ve been preaching peace, I took the matter to the State Deputy Governor, and he has been doing all within his powers to bring lasting peace and unity to the Ohanaze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State Chapter.
“Our unity as an ethnic group is important to us as a people. I’ve always called on all to work together for a peaceful and united Ohanaze Ndigbo in the State”, he said.
The Tide reports that at the endorsement meeting, Barr. Agama Vitus Okonkwo was also unveiled as the Chairman of 2023 Igbo day celebration in the state.
In his acceptance speech, Okonkwo promised to give the group a befitting Igbo day celebration, saying the event would be held on the 29th of September, 2023, in the state.
He advised Igbos to be wary of any body or group who comes under the guise of Igbo day celebration to collect levies or demand for money from any person of Igbo extraction in the state.
Meanwhile, the duo of the Chairman, Igbo Traders Association, Bayelsa State Chapter, who also doubles as the Chairman of Phone village, Yenagoa, Prince Williams Eze, and the Ohanaze Ndigbo Women Wing Coordinator, Gbarain Clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mrs Chika Okonkwo, have restated their continued commitment to the unity and progress of the Igbo ethnic nationality in the state.
In their separate responses while fielding questions from newsmen during the meeting of the group, they thanked Hon. Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa and others for ensuring a peaceful resolution of the lingering crises in the state chapter of the Ohanaze Ndigbo.
They also called on the Mr Onuma Johnson’s faction of the group to toe the path of Peaceful coexistence.
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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