Politics
Protest: Stakeholders Knock Okocha Over Allegations Against Fubara
Some stakeholders in Rivers State have knocked the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Tony Okocha and others, over claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara sponsored the protest against hunger in the state.
A cross section of stakeholders, who reacted to the allegations in an interview with The Tide, also described it as baseless.
They queried the rationale behind the allegation, since the protest was carried out nationwide and not only in Rivers State.
According to a legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Barrister Joel Didi, the allegation lacked merit and was not worth replying to.
He described the protest as a revolution by Nigerians against bad governance in the country.
“That allegation is baseless; baseless for all that I know because I know this is a protest that is going on nationwide.
“It would have had substance if they had alleged that the governor was sponsoring it over Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of the country.
“Who sponsored that of Lagos State where it seems to be the base of Mr President? Is it the same Governor of Rivers State that was sponsoring that one? So, it is baseless “, he said.
Also describing the allegation as empty, Barr Didi said that Governor Fubara could not descend so low to sponsor people to vandalise APC Secretariat that could not be compared to Government House and admonished those making the allegations to respect the office of the Governor.
The legal practitioner described the protest as a popular uprising by the Nigerian people, adding that “for the first time, the people have explored and exploited other mechanisms to reach out to the leadership.
“That leadership has been deaf, and in most cases not concerned to the plight of the people, and the people have taken it back to themselves.
“This is a peak of democratic experiment where people have come to realise that the power these people wield is from them”, he said.
Also speaking, a former Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Andoni Local Government Area, Elder Blessing Tiko, said those who sponsored the protesters were the ones accusing the governor.
Elder Tiko said Governor Fubara was too decent to sponsor thugs to either Chief Okocha’s office or to Chief Wike’s residence, adding that Rivers people should open their eyes to know who their real enemies are.
“The issue of now claiming that our beloved governor, the most peaceful governor that God gave to Rivers State…that man cannot kill a fly, talk of sponsoring people to go to Wike’s house.
“People who sponsored those boys are the ones accusing Fubara now. People should know that there is God in this state”, he said.
He queried why the Police should continue to barricade the local government councils in the state.
Also responding, the National Convener of the Coalition of Rivers Leaders of Thought (CORSLOT), Chief Sunnie Chukumele, described the allegation as spurious, criminal and lacking in merit.
Chief Chukumele cautioned the APC’s CTC Chairman to act responsibly and stop raising the political temperature in the state by making spurious allegations.
By: John Bibor
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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