Politics
Tinubu, Govs, Others Felicitate Akpabio At 61
A sea of dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi, Governors Umo Eno, Bassey Otu and the Deputy Senate President, converged on the Uyo International Stadium to celebrate Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday anniversary and formal state reception.
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Oluremi underscored the significance of the occasion, urging all politicians to prioritise nation building above partisan interests.
She commended Senator Akpabio’s exemplary leadership and dedication to promoting democracy and accountability. Charging other politicians to emulate Senator Akpabio, the President said it was time for all hands across party lines to be on the deck for nation building as the period of politics was over, paving the way for governance that prioritizes national interest rather than personal or party interest.
He noted that the Senate President had not only shown exemplary leadership which has gone a long way towards strengthening the principle of democracy and accountability, but also promoted the interest of many Nigerians, especially the vulnerable in the society.
He said: “At this auspicious occasion of Senator Godswill Akpabio’s 61st birthday, I send warm greetings and heartfelt wishes.This occasion is not only for celebration, but to reflect on the immense contribution he has made to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole. Under his leadership, Akwa Ibom witnessed remarkable infrastructural development, improved healthcare services and educational growth, poverty alleviation and human capital development as well as transformed the lives of many vulnerable persons.
“Senator Akpabio has continued to serve our nation diligently in the Senate. As the Senate president, he has displayed exemplary leadership, fostered unity and promoted the interest of many Nigerians. He is committed to principle of democracy, accountability and good governance.”
In his remarks, the Senate President appreciated the people who turned up to celebrate with him and said their presence would encourage him to do more and speak more, not just for Akwa Ibom People, but Nigerians as a whole.
Akpabio therefore used the occasion to clear the misconception that he created an office of the Senate president’s wife, saying that such never existed.
“There is no office called the office of the wife of the senate president, all these things are lies, the office is in the other room. I have tried to be the voice to the voiceless, not just to my senatorial district, but to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
Governor Eno congratulated Senator Akpabio on his birthday and pledged his support for his leadership, irrespective of party lines or ethnicity, and enjoined all Akwa Ibom people and other stakeholders to learn how to support one another for the growth and development of the state and the country.
Chairman of the occasion and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, described Senator Akpabio as an enigmatic leader whose era as governor had witnessed uncommon transformation of Akwa Ibom and expressed optimism that he would replicate same leadership acumen to foster peace, unity development, irrespective of politics party affiliations.
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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