Politics
RVHA Okays 15 CTC Chairmen
The screening and confirmation of 15 Caretaker Committee Chairmen by the State House of Assembly dominated proceedings at the House last week.
Ahead of the screening, the House had a break of one week following the passage of three prominent bills. The bills are the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Bill of 2018, the Secret Cult Prohibition Amendment Bill 2018 and the State Anti-Kidnap (Prohibition) Amendment Bill 2018.
The Secret Cult Bill and the Anti-kidnap Bills now carry death penalty as the House proposed that any offender found guilty by the court will face death penalty, while sponsors will face imprisonment and impoundment of property.
The new State Neigbourhood Safety Corps Bill is to provide support to security agencies, in the protection and security of the state through a civilian body.
During the screening of the chairman and members of 15 local government areas caretaker committees, the House specifically took special interest in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas.
Members representing Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni II Constituency, Hon. Nathaniel Owaji frowned at the traffic, congestion around the Rumuokoro Junction, while blaming the situation on street trading. He said the Obio/Akpor chairman has to ensure the menace is checked.
On his part, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani harped on the need for the CTC chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area to concentrate on the area of sanitation and environmental cleanliness.
In the words of the speaker, “you must ensure that residents conform to law and ensure that the environment is clean. Port Harcourt and Obi/Akpor must always show leadership, to other areas, because these councils are in the heart of the city”.
Shortly after the screening, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Judiciary and Training, Hon. Sam Ogeh spoke to journalists. Hon. Ogeh noted that the two Caretaker Committees member nominees turned down by the Assembly was based on improper dressing, and would be screened administratively by the Speaker. Against this development, the legislator from Emohua affirmed that nobody was disqualified in the exercise.
Hon. Ogeh also said the petition placed before the House by the Chief Whip, Hon. Evans Bipi would be addressed by the House Committee on Public Petition.
Within the week, the Speaker through the House member representing Emohua State Constituency, Sam Ogeh, spoke at a one day special workshop organized by International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) to mainstream law against domestic violence. Ogeh assured the women lawyers of the House’s continued support through enactment of laws to check the menace.
Leader of the House, Hon. Martins Amaewhule last Friday took a facility tour of project in his constituency. He visited the Rumuodunawere Civic Centre at Elelenwo, Rumurolu Modern Market, and Oroigwe Civic Centre, the projects were his 2017 constituency projects.
Last Saturday, member representing Emohua, Sam Ogeh, interred his mother-in-law at Opobo Town. He poured encomiums on Mrs. Roselyn Wariso, who he said led a virtuous life.
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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