Politics
PDP, ALGON Knock Rivers APC Over Attacks On Gov
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Governor Nyesom WIke has a hand in the current crisis rocking the party in the state.
The Tide recalled that APC’s National and State Assemblies aspirants in the state led by Hon. Henry Odili at a media briefing last week threatened that there will be no election in the state save INEC relists its candidates for the poll.
The aspirants also accused INEC of conniving with Governor, Wike to exclude the APC in the general elections in the state.
But speaking with The Tide in Port Harcourt at the weekend, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Darlington Orji advised the APC to look inwards and stop pointing accusing fingers.
Orji attributed the crisis within the party, APC in the state to highhandedness by some big wigs of the party, pointing out that the state governor is neither a member of their party nor interested in what happens in their fold.
“Governor Wike is never interested in their party affairs and neither has he been a member of the APC as to cause their internal wrangling.
“The internal wrangling the APC is aware was orchestrated by the Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation who decided to laud a governorship candidate over and above the real members of APC. So we cannot be linked to it,” Orji, spokesman of the PDP in the state stated.
Similarly, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Rivers State chapter also disagreed with the APC aspirants that Governor Wike is responsible for the delisting of the party in the general elections.
The State Chairman of ALGON and Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Victor Ihunwo said that the governor is a crusader of the rule of law and will not meddle into the affairs of the APC.
Ihunwo said, “Well ordinarily ALGON in Rivers State would have ignored their baseless rantings but to put the records straight.
“We wish to state that Governor Wike is a well-bred democrat who at all times believe in free and fair electoral contest which is the hallmark of democracy and thus will not do anything that will undermine the democratic process or engage in any undemocratic practice.
“Governor Wike is a lawyer who believed in the due process of the law and will not undermine the judicial process like their master who closed the courts in Rivers State for over a year to achieve selfish political interest.
“The judiciary in Rivers State is independent and does not witness interference as they seem to suggest,” the state ALGON chairman stated.
Dennis Naku
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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