Politics
Sylva’s Petition Won’t Distract Us -Bayelsa Dep Gov
The Bayelsa State Government has restated its commitment to working assiduously for the continued peace, stability and development of the state.
Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this recently while speaking at a special dinner organised in honour of some stakeholders of Bayelsa West Senatorial District at his Lodge in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement by his media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted the deputy governor as saying that the Governor Douye Diri-led administration would remain focused on completing all ongoing projects and embark on new economically viable ones to achieve job and wealth creation.
The Bayelsa number two citizen vowed that the administration would not allow anything, including the ongoing legal action filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 11th November 2023 governorship election, Chief Timipre Sylva, to distract its attention.
He called on all well-meaning Bayelsans, including opposition politicians, to join hands with government in expanding the frontiers of development in the state, rather than embark on a wild goose chase.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate would be victorious at all levels of the legal battle, stressed that the 2023 governorship election was won and lost fair and square.
He thanked the people of the state across party lines for their show of love and support during the elections and the second term inauguration ceremony, describing it as unprecedented in the annals of the state.
According to the Deputy Governor, similar get-together ceremonies will be organized to appreciate PDP stakeholders in Bayelsa Central and East senatorial districts.
“First, we all have to thank the Governor who has directed us to start this process. We are going to do this across the three senatorial districts as part of measures to thank you for the support you have always given to us and our party.
“Unfortunately, few of us decamped because they fell for the deception dummy our opponent sold to them. I pity them and I don’t know why they are always falling for his tricks.
“I hear he told his supporters that there was going to be a repeat of 2020. I don’t blame him because he doesn’t know that my boss and I are special species. He fails to understand that he doesn’t have the kind of grace we carry.
“What doesn’t happen anywhere continues to happen for us. Our swearing-in the other Wednesday was unprecedented. There won’t be any swearing-in like that again in this state just like there was none like it before.
“You all saw how colourful it was and the number of dignitaries that attended: Two presidents-Liberia and our own president represented by their vice. Secondly, two former presidents and over 11 serving governors across party lines”, he said.
In his remarks, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Solomon Agwanana, underscored the sense of unity and singleness of purpose with which the people of Bayelsa West pursue their political agenda.
While urging the senatorial district to sustain the gesture, Mr Agwanana, maintained that the people of Bayelsa West were able to garner the highest votes for the PDP in the 2023 governorship election because of their unity.
Also speaking, the PDP Caucus Chairman of Sagbama LGA, Hon Fyneman Wilson and his Ekeremor counterpart, Hon Dein Benadoumene, expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor for organizing the Thank-You event less than two weeks after the second tenure inauguration of the Prosperity Government.
Ariwera lbibo- Howells, Yenagoa
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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