Politics
Lamido Hails Wike On Performance
As political gladiators strategise for positions towards 2019 general election in the country’. The campaign team of a presidential hopeful under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido stormed Government House, Port Harcourt, last week.
Sule, a one-time governor of Jigawa State disclosed his ambition to run for the presidency to the Rivers state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
He lauded Wike for his strong commitment to the party and outstanding delivery of infrastructure in the state, saying that he has the zeal and capacity to reposition the nation.
Wike, in his response, described Lamido as one of the consistent, firm and strong pillars of the party.
The governor emphasized the need for those jostling for positions on the platform of PDP to accept the final verdict of the party and to work with whoever emerges finally to take Nigeria out of its comatose under APC-leadership at the centre.
Another major event last week in Brick House was the visit of the Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe last Tuesday.
The D-G who came to present an insignia of Hosting right of the National Arts Festival to Rivers State appreciated the elevation of Rivers State to a leading position in Nigeria in terms of tourism.
He explained to the governor the preparedness of the council to organize a befitting NAFEST in the state.
Wike commended the Council and stressed the preparedness of the state to host a successful Arts festival that would be one of the best in the country.
The alleged plot by the APC-led Federal Government to get the 32 cultists declared wanted by the Rivers State Government, out of the hook by granting them amnesty upset things in Government House last week.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barr Emma Okah disclosed the plot at a media briefing held at the Banguet Hall and said the aim of those behind the evil plot is to use the cultists in 2019 election.
Okah noted that though the plot is not a surprise to the Rivers State Government, he regretted that it is another obvious way of working against peace and security of the state and declared that the cultists remain wanted elements in the state. Wike made public his position on the controversial cattle colony last Tuesday when D-Source Connect Group visited him in Government House.
He stated that the state has no land to give out for the creation of cattle colony as oil pollution and environmental degradation had destroyed available land.
Wike said: “We will not be drawn into a debate on cattle colony. We don’t have land for any cattle colony in Rivers state”.
Leadership Newspaper, last Friday, presented to Wike a nomination letter as Governor of the year 2017.
A delegation of the publishing outfit led by the Group Managing Director, Mr Abdul Gombe revealed that two former Heads of State and a retired Supreme Court Justice, endorsed the nomination of Wike.
Gombe described Wike as a prepared leader who has provided the right leadership in spite of distractive political activities in the state.
In his response, the governor dedicated the award to God and people of the state who gave him the mandate to serve the state and assured that he would sustain the tempo.
He charged the media to work towards promotion of democracy and to insist on credible election in 2019.
Wike while inspecting the Ogoni-Ndoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity Road, restated the commitment of his administration to complete the road in good time for rapid development of riverine communities in the state.
Chris Oluoh
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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