Politics
PDP Convention: Obaze, Anenih, Others Move For Consensus Candidates
Some Anambra chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have begun moves to agree on how to address and reconcile all the aggrieves factions in the State chapter of the party ahead of its national convention in Abuja.
At a meeting convened by the just concluded Anambra State governorship candidate of the party, Hon Oseloka Henry Obaze, which was held at the party secretariat, Awka, the Anambra State Capital, yesterday, the party chieftains agreed to hold several other meetings with their supporters to present a common front at the convention, slated for December 9
Apart from Obaze, those present at the meeting included a former Minister of Women Affairs, Chief Josephine Anenih who is the secretary of the Caretaker committee in the State a former Governorship Aspirant of the Party, Dr Alex Obiogbolo, Elders of the party in the State, Local Government chapter Chairmen, Women leaders and supporters. Obaze said he had called the meeting “to share Ideologist with them, find a common ground and go to the convention as an indivisible and united” Family.
The former candidate, who use the occasion to thank all the party members who may have supported him one way or the other, said it would be wrong for the Anambra State chapter to “go to the convention like people without cohesion”.
He said there would be subsequent meetings in all the wards across the State which would involve other key stakeholders of the party in the State to decide on a candidate among the aspirants vying for different position in our great party PDP and other pressing issues affecting the State Chapter
Information has it that, from the PDP Zoning arrangement, the National Chairmanship position of the Party had been zoned to the South-West and there has been a silent battle among a number of the party’s chieftains in the region over who should get the position.
Those who have declared their interest so far in the position include former PDP Deputy Vice Chairman (South West), Chief Bode George; a former National Chairman of the party, Hon Prince Uche Secondus (South-South), a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; and a former Minister of Education, Prof Tunde Adeniran.
At the meeting, the former Governorship aspirant in the State, Dr Alex Obiogbolo, said the only way forward politically in Nigeria is for the only party with national spread, the PDP, to come back to its basis and bring all its members back, create a level playing field and entrench internal party democracy so that the slogan of ‘power to the people’ will become real.
Mrs Anenih, who also endorsed the meeting, contended that Nigeria is at a critical stage, and PDP leaders must come together to take critical decision, saying there should not have been quarrel that made things to fall apart within the party in the first place, which lead to the party defeat in last week Saturday Governorship election in Anambra State. So, PDP leaders, she counselled, must settle their grievances and form a united front to “rescue the country from this critical stage.” she then promised to assist the State Chapter in rebuilding PDP, urging the party leaders in the State to carry all members along in order to create a sense of oneness.
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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