Politics
‘Igbos Unite Against Criminality’
A peace parley between the Rivers State Government and Ndigbos last Sunday, set the tone for events in Government House, Port Harcourt, last week.
The five state governments in the zone were represented in the meeting by either their Governors or Deputy Governors. President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and other notable personalities of Igbo ethnic nationality were present in the peace meeting.
According to the Chairman of South-Eastern Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, the meeting was requested by the forum and approved by the Governor of Rivers State to seek for peace over the crisis in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State and rumours that Governor Wike was chasing Ibos out of his state because he hates them.
However, when the Ibos living in the state were called to explain how they were being treated in the state, it was commendations and praises on how Governor Wike- led government had treated them as if they were Rivers people.
Governor Wike said Rivers State is home to the Ibos, because of the enduring relationship it has with them and that such cordial co-existence would continue.
He explained that the outlawed Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) killed six soldiers, four policemen, burnt all police stations and court buildings in Oyigbo and that the crisis that ensued led to imposition of curfew by the state government.
He said that the state had nothing against the Ibos but warned them not to take laws into their hands as was done by IPOB, so as to avoid the wrath of the law.
The forum Chairman, Governor Umahi and the President- General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, decried the criminal activities of IPOB and said they were not representing the Ibos. They praised Governor Wike for taking the Ibos in Rivers as his and urged Ibos to be peaceful and to respect the laws of the state.
Also last week, Gov Wike approved the re-opening of the Ikokwu Spare Parts Market.
He however, ordered that security agencies would remain in the area till future notice.
Within the week under review, more prominent politicians defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
A former Director of Finance and Administration in the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC), Henry Ogiri who led those that defected said they were motivated to return to PDP because of the quality of people- oriented projects embarked upon by Governor Wike.
Another major event last week in Brick House was the signing of Executive Order prohibiting street trading, illegal market and motor park around the newly commissioned Rebisi Flyover Bridge.
The Executive Order is titled: “ Executive Order RVSG- 23 202 Pursuant to Sections 1, 3 and 9 of the Rivers State Street Trading, Illegal Markets and Motor Parks (Prohibition) Law 2019.
Also last week , Governor Wike declared open the 2020/2021 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary in Port Harcourt.
At a special court session, part of the activities organised to mark the event open, Governor Wike took a swipe at the Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Prince Nyekwere for alleging that some persons were extrajudicially killed by the military in the aftermath of IPOB killing of six soldiers, four policemen, and destroyed police stations and court buildings.
He wondered why the NBA that was yet to make a former submission to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the State Government to probe the attrocities of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) would without evidence allege extrajudicial killings in Oyigbo.
Governor Wike lauded the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adama Lamikanra for her commitment to the progress of the judiciary in the state.
By: 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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