Politics
Speaker Commends Lawmakers Over Achievements
Proceedings at the State House of Assembly continued on a normal note with a plenary, last Thursday, being the last sitting to mark the end of the 3rd Session of the 8th Assembly.
Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, recalled with nostalgia the course of the Assembly and how the journey started on June 1st, 2015, when the 8th Assembly was inaugurated.
According to Ibani, the Assembly has achieved a lot in the course of three years especially in ensuring that the executive succeeds in its policies and programmes.
He pointed out that most of the laws passed were intended to achieve the objectives and programmes of Chief Nyesom Wike-led administration in touching the lives of the citizenry.
The Speaker maintained that the House had been united and committed in the past three years in law making and representation of their various constituencies.
Ibani also thanked the lawmakers for their unflinching support and commended them for their solidarity in achieving the 182 days of the 3rd Session of the 8th Assembly.
Challenging them to be focused and more committed to their legislative functions, Ibani reminded the lawmakers that their duty was a selfless service to the state which demanded that they should leave an enduring legacy.
He said the end of the 3rd Session of the Assembly marked the beginning of the fourth session, as he hinted that soon the House would proceed on a recess, as part of the annual rest period for the lawmakers.
The Speaker commended his fellow legislators for the support he had enjoyed over the years in leading the Assembly.
Ibani gave the commendation following the award he received during the State’s 51st Anniversary.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had bestowed on Ibani the Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS). The award was in recognition of the Speaker’s contribution to the development of Rivers State.
The Speaker said he dedicated the award to the lawmakers and to his constituents who, over the years, have not lost hope in his ability to represent them, as he pledged for more commitment to the service of the state.
Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Benebo Anabraba, last Thursday, introduced a new amendment bill of the Rivers State Physical Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2018.
Anabraba, who represents Akuku-Toru ll in the Assembly, declared that the bill would help improve the state physical planning laws and reduce haphazard construction in the state.
Shortly after the bill got its first reading, the House’s adjourned sitting, however legislator representing Bonny Constituency, Hon Blessing Pepple had expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Assembly, as the House 3rd session ends.
Hon Pepple asserted that the House has displayed vision and zeal and debunked insinuations that the House was an appendage of the executive.
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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