Politics
‘Clinton, May’s Emergence, Good For Nigerian Women’
A women’s rights,
Barrister Debora Effiong has described the emergence of Mrs Hilary Clinton as presumptive presidential candidate of the Democratic Party in the United States and assumption of office of Theresa May as British Prime Minister as a huge boost to the activities of women’s rights movement in Nigeria.
Effiong made the assertion in an interview with The Tide in her office in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
Describing the development as a welcome one that has global, continental and national impact, the gender rights activist said that the events do not only lend credence to their work but also avail them with worthy global examples that they could readily draw from in Nigeria.
“It speaks volumes to our work. It lends credence to what we’re doing because we’ve been trying to see how we can get those global examples which we can bring home here in Nigeria”, she said, adding that, “The question is if it’s in the UK, why not Nigeria? If it’s in the US, why not Nigeria?”
Effiong who is also the Executive Director, Arise for Gender and Livelihood Initiative (ALIVE), a non-governmental organisation averred that there may be a global paradigm shitf orchestrated by God to bring about a new order, adding that this may be a divine response to the clamour, advocacy and prayers of the activists over the years.
“We have several instruments guaranteeing women’s rights, several instruments promoting women’s inclusion in the political space but a lot of those instruments have not been adequately addressed or enforced within the context of our laws and legislation”, she lamented, arguing that “providence also has something to do with this”.
“I believe there’s a God who has a hand in the current global affairs. I feel strongly that our prayers are getting answered”, she stressed.
Effiong identified cultural stereotype as the singular most inhibiting factor against women’s involvement in politics in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular, adding that the situation is so pervasive that women themselves have tended to accept the dominance of men to their exclusion and marginalization.
“It’s more of a cultural issue to me and that’s why the political space has not been opened up to encourage as many women as possible”, she said, noting that “The traditional gate-keepers are men, not women, traditional and anscestral stools are dominated by men in this part of the world”.
Regrettably, she said that this cultural setting is usually carried over to the outer political space where, unforuantely, even the women are not able to extricate themselves from the limiting mindset.
“Even the women, unconsciously, are limited by their own thinking. Women accept the stereotyping. It is believed that there are certain professions that are exclusive preserve of the male”, she noted with regret, adding that women are usually interpreted along their care giving roles.
She urged the government to be at the vanguard of promoting and enforcing women inclusion and development agenda while calling on the men folk not to see women issues as an affront to their masculinity but to understand that they seek only to be partners and not a change of positions.
“They need to understand that what the women are actually asking for is partnership. Women don’t want to take over. Women just want to partner with men”, she explained.
“There is really nothing to take over. All that we want is carry us along”, she emphasised, stressing that “The real essence of equality is not equality in terms of status, position and prestige. We want equality in terms of opportunities and outcome”.
Opaka Dokubo
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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