Politics
Wike Flays Opposition Over Rerun
The 10th anniversary and thanksgiving service of the Omega Power Ministry opened activities at Government House last week. Governor Nyesom Wike participated in the programme, as he urged citizens of the state to pray God to handle those working with opposition to deny the state full representation at the senate.
From the thanksgiving at Omega Power Ministry, the governor attended the Harvest and Annual Thanksgiving of St Luke Anglican Church, Rumuadaolu.
At the Saint Luke Anglican Church, Chief Wiike lambasted former Governor Chibuike Amaechi for not utilising the huge state funds at his disposal. “Amaechi squandered the money of our people, using state resources to sponsor elections in other places”.
There was a state Executive Council meeting on Monday. And also issues affecting the state were discussed with Governor Nyesome Wike presiding. On Tuesday, the governor declared open the 104th Quarterly meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers. While acknowledging that traditional rulers are closest to the people, Chief Wike enlisted their support in bringing about peace and normalcy in their domains.
The state governor called on the royal fathers to steer clear of partisanship, as the state government will not hesitate to suspend anyone caught playing politics.
Chief Wike also enlisted their support to ensure that the ongoing Amnesty Programme for militants and cultists succeeds. He also intimated them about the upcoming state 50th anniversary slated for next year.
After declaring open the quarterly meeting of the traditional rulers, the governor returned to Government House where he granted audience to the chiefs and leaders of Ogbum-nu-Abali community.
He commended the leaders and people fo Ogbum-nu-Abali for their peaceful disposition, pointing out ther support to the state government will always be rewarded with projects and programmes.
On the same day, the state government in a press statement, announced the reconstitution of the board of Rivers State Transport Company (RTC). The board is chaired by Chief Ibe Eresia-Eke, while Mr. Allwell Egwungwu is to serve as secretary.
Last Wednesday, another State Executive Council meeting was convened shortly after the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George briefed pressmen on the outcome of the meeting. The state government, he disclosed, had earmarked 13 state owned hospitals for rehabilitation. The psychiatric hospital was listed among them.
Governor Wike, last Thursday, commended the Senate for reaching demand by the state government calling on INEC to conduct the remaining re-run elections before or in 10th December, 2016. After, hosting members of fiscal and Revenue Mobilisation Commission the same day, he also hosted executive members of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) led by its President Alatubo Charles Harry.
Speaking while playing host to visiting executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch Friday, Governor Wike called on the bar to speak out against a deliberate attempt by the Presidency to subdue the judiciary. He observed that the current probe on judges was a play to silence them. The governor shortly after hosting NBA met with church leaders across the state.
Last Saturday, a fake result syndicate was bursted by the police. The culprits indicted the opposition for orchestrating plans to rig the rerun elections. The governor on returning to the state inspected work at the Port Harcourt pleasure park project as well as attended a burial at Aluu.
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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