Politics
Lawmakers Cast Votes At Units
Penultimate week, the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani and other members of the Assembly cast their votes in the various constituencies they represent during the concluded presidential elections.
Rt. Hon. Ibani cast is vote in Ataba in Andoni Local Government Area of the State, while other top principal officers, including the Majority Leader, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, the Chief Whip, Hon. Evans Bipi and Minority Leader, Hon. Anabrabra all voted in their various wards.
Consequently, the Speaker and top politicians in Andoni condemned the violence and murder of former Andoni LGA Chairman, Mr. Monwan Etete on 23rd February, 2019.
He pleaded for calm and urged all parties to be peaceful as they await the outcome of police investigations and report following the incident that occurred in Asarama Town on the day of the presidential elections.
Condemnation has equally trailed the arrest and arraignment of member representing Ahoada-West in the House, Hon. Wanaka Okpokiri together with Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr Reason Onyia by the military during the just concluded presidential elections.
Hon. Okpokiri who pleaded not guilty to charges that he and Reason contravened electoral laws was released by a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt last week.
The lawmaker described his arrest as politically motivated as he explained that he only expressed his fundamental human rights, and never breached the law in anyway after casting his ballot.
Okpokiri accused the military of complicity in aiding the opposition to upturn the people’s wish, as he maintained that all forms of intimidation and harassment of the PDP chieftains in the area would not yield any fruit to those who want to oppress the people.
Meanwhile, lawmaker representing Akuku-Toru Constituency I, Hon. Major Jack has called on the people of the area to embrace peace and brotherliness. He frowned at the violence that empted in the area during the last presidential elections.
Hon. Jack who is also the Deputy Chief Whip in the House noted that the people of the area are peace-loving and hospitable, as he frowned at the level of bitterness now erupting in the area.
He expressed optimism that the peace moves initiated by the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Bob-Manuel would create peace ahead the guber and State Assembly elections.
Recall that last Thursday, top members of the Rivers State Government, including the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike visited Abonnema for all memorial service in mourning those who lost their lives during the violence that took place during the last presidential elections.
Already, the state government has set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo in identifying those who died including soldiers who lost their lives during the crisis.
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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