Politics
Wike Charges New CP On State Security
Activities in Government House last week started with a
thanksgiving service at the Royal House of Grace, Port Harcourt. Governor Nyesom Wike and other top government officials attended the church service.
At the Church service, the governor disclosed plans by the State Government to tighten the noose on kidnapping and cultism. According to the governor, a new law was being mutted to evolve measures to check the menace in the state.
Shortly after the church service, Barrister Wike paid a condolence visit to the family of Eze Ambrose Adele Omije the III of Oropotoma. The governor described the late royal father as a man of peace.
On Monday, the governor played host to the State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Dorathy Nwatarali in Government House. He reiterated government desire to assist the scheme achieve its core objective, by providing welfare and other forms of logistics for corp members serving in the state.
He also agreed to the request by the coordinator to view the posting policy for serving youth corp members with emphasis on professionals only.
After receiving the NYSC team on Monday Governor Wike went to the Indorama Petrochemical Limited on Tuesday where he met with the management of the company and later took a tour of facilities at the complex.
Earlier during the visit, Managing Director of Indorama, Mr Manish Mundra thanked the governor for the visit while hinting of plans by the company to build the world biggest fertilizer plant in the State.
In response, Governor Wike assured the firm of government’s continued support, while urging other companies to follow the steps of Indorama by investing in the state.
On Wednesday, the governor attended the burial service of Mrs Justinah Nwobiandu Oparaodu at St Paul’s Cathedral Diobu. From the Church Service, he carried out project inspection tour on the ongoing Trans-Amadi, Woji / Elelenwo / East West Road.
Barrister Wike expressed displeasure at the level of work and urged the contractor, Ronier Construction Company (RCC) to speed up work. He promised funding the project, saying governance is a continuum.
Representative of RCC assured the governor that part of the road between slaughter and Garrison will be done in four months time excluding the bridges and culverts.
The governor also visited the ongoing Eagle Island / Iloabuchi link road and the road rehabilitating exercise at Ojoto by Azikiwe being handled by a Chinese firm CCECC.
On Thursday the governor inaugurated the new board of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority (GPHDA) and tasked them on the need to be self -funding. He also charged the new board to ensure the implementating of the new city plan.
On the same Thursday, the governor addressed the Batch C corp members who were passing out at their permanent orientation camp at Nonwa-Gbam. He addressed them through the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani, and charged them to be creative and assist government in creating employment.
On Friday, Governor Nyesom Wike hosted the new State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezeike. He urged the new CP not to politicise the issue of security, adding that governance revolves around security of lives and property.
He said, “do the best you can, to improve security in the state. Crime fighting should not be politicised. All efforts should be geared toward ensuring that investors return to the state.
Earlier, Mr Ezeike assured the governor that the command would do everything possible to combat crimes in the State.
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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