Politics
PDP Youth Assure Wike, Atiku Of Victory
PDP Youths Alliance, the youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party has assured that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the party’s presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other candidates of the party would be voted in during the forthcoming elections.
The Coordinator of the alliance in Etche Local Government Area, Hon Nwafor Solomon gave the assurance yesterday in an interview with our correspondent.
Nwafor stated that the state governor, Nyesom Wike gave priority attention to the development of Etche land and that the people of Etche owe the governor the debt of reciprocating by voting enmass for him at the governorship election.
” At the beginning of his administration, Wike reconstructed the Igwuruta/ Chokocho road which was impassable then. He reconstructed the Igbo/ Chokocho road which was abandoned then.
“Wike did the Ulakwo/ Afara/Nihi road and also awarded the Odufor/Akpoku/Umuoye road which is going on now”, he said.
The coordinator explained that the key projects executed by Wike would stimulate socio-economic development in the area, stressing that the forthcoming election would provide an opportunity for the people of Etche to pay the governor back for the massive infrastructure and human capital development in Etche.
He noted that: “As the youth wing of the party , we have erected our structures in 19 wards in Etche and have mobilized heavily. We are waiting for the election to come”.
He expressed confidence that the Governor would take development in the area to the next level, if voted in for a second term.
Nwafor equally expressed hope that with his wealth of experience in business development, the PDP Presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would bring the presence of the Federal Government to Etche.
He expressed disappointment that in spite of the huge economic contribution of Etche to the Federal Government, the government at the centre had continued to neglecte the area.
” We are confident that this ugly story will change when Atiku comes into office. Etche will be given her right place in the scheme of things particularly in terns of projects, sitting of industries and appointment of sons and daughters of Etche into Federal positions”.
He said Chief Ephraim Nwuzi, candidate of the PDP for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency will also attract development in view of his wealth of experience in human capital development.
According to him, Hon Nwuzi has empowered so many Etche sons and daughters and the youths of Etche are ready to vote him en mass nothing that a vote for Nwuzi is an investment into the future of Etche.
Chris Oluoh
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.