Politics
Rivers West Endorses Wike For Second Term
Government House activities began last Monday with adorning of Eagle feather on the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in Ahoada by the traditional rulers of Rivers West Senatorial district.
The Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robson who performed the rite on behalf of traditional rulers of the eight local government areas that make up the district said, Eagle is the King of the birds of the air and the honour is a mark of endorsement on the Governor to go for re-election in 2019 as resolved by sons and daughters of the area.
The people of the area, at the event tagged Rivers West-Senatorial District 2018 Mega Rally endorsed Wike for second term. Political Leader of the District, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba said the resolution was predicated on Wike’s rapid development strides in the local government areas in the district.
The death of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN0 also affected activities in Government House as individuals, groups and organisations from within and outside the state besieged Brick House to condole the governor and Rivers people over the demise of the legal luminary.
The former Governor of Kano State and Presidential aspirant of the PDP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, paid the governor a condolence visit on Monday night in Government House.
He expressed shock at the news of the Attorney-General’s death and urged the Governor, the people of the state and the bereaved family to take heart.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) visited with his team last Thursday, saying late Aguma left indelible marks on the legal profession.
“Aguma was an accomplished lawyer. He was one of our very serious lawyers that we are proud of, not only in Rivers State but across the country”, Mahmoud said.
The Service Commanders of Rivers State Security Council also paid Governor Wike a condolence visit in Government House last Monday.
The council, led by the Assistant Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Service, Zone C, Sanusi Umar, comprised of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy, DSS, Nigeria Police, Civil Defence, NDLEA, Nigerian Immigration Service, Customs and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
The council described late Aguma as a reliable and industrious public officer who exhibited professionalism in the discharge of his duties and condoled with the government and people of the state.
Also, the Chairman of Daar Communication Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was in Government House last Friday to pay condolence visit to Governor Wike on the demise of late Aguma.
Dekposi described Late Aguma as a patriot of the First Order and a person committed to the development of Rivers State and the entire South-South geo-political zone.
Wike had announced 14th and 15th September as burial dates for the late Attorney- General and also inaugurated a burial committee for the deceased.
The committee chairman regretted that instead of a committee to celebrate the patriot at this time, such an illustrious son of the state was to be buried. He promised that the committee would do its best to give the deceased a befitting burial.
The committee, made up of 55 persons drawn from the church, legal profession, the family, government and other walks of life, was given next Wednesday to work out a budget for the state burial.
Another major event in Brick House last week was the 70th Birthday celebration of a former governor of the state, or Peter Odili which was organised by Rivers State Government. The ceremony which opened with a thanksgiving ceremony Penultimate Sunday also had a public lecture and state banquet at Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.
Wike also made a state wide broadcast last Friday to sue for peaceful conduct of Port Harcourt constituency III bye-election and revealed plans by some politicians to disrupt the election.
He warned that any attempt by any person or group to disrupt the election would attract the wrath of the law.
A music mega star, David Adeleke popularly called Davido also visited the Brick House last Friday. The Star who announced his intention to develop music talents in the state solicited for state government’s partnership.
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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