Politics
Bayelsa Dep Gov Lauds Campaign Council On Dickson’s Victory
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bayelsa West Senatorial Campaign Council for their selfless efforts, which led to the victory of Senator Seriake Dickson at the poll.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo who spoke at a “Thank You Meeting” with the campaign council in his office in Government House, Yenagoa, described the outcome of the election as a landslide victory and unprecedented in the political history of the Senatorial District.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor acknowledged the teamwork and dedication of the Campaign Council, which culminated in the crushing defeat of the main challenger of the PDP even in his own ward.
According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, the efforts and zeal of the PDP Bayelsa West Campaign Team did not only motivate but also had a positive domino-effect on their Central District counterparts in the December 5 senatorial bye-elections.
He noted that, for the first time, the Bayelsa West Senatorial District was able to put in place and operate a campaign machinery that was domiciled in the area unlike before where such structures worked from outside.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo thanked stakeholders in the district for their firmness in defending the subsisting zoning agreement between the Ekeremor and Sagbama people, which some selfish politicians fought hard to break.
In their separate remarks, the Director General of the Campaign Council, Hon Fyneman Wilson and Chairman of the PDP Senatorial Caucus, Chief Thompson Okorotie, noted that the party”s success would not have been possible without the supportive role of the Deputy Governor.
According to them, the Deputy Governor took several proactive steps including convening several meetings that provided the rallying point and direction for the successful campaigns that culminated in the electoral victory of the immediate past Governor.
They stressed the need for politicians who have the ambition of running for political offices to learn a lesson from what befell the candidate of the main opposition party in the Bayelsa senatorial bye-elections by obeying the voice of the people.
Also speaking, the state Chairman of the PDP, Mr Solomon Agwuananagha and the Deputy Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Hon Michael Ogbere, equally described the leadership role played by Senator Ewhrudjakpo as impressive.
The duo also commended people of the district for supporting the PDP and stressed the need for all stakeholders to always sink their individual and communal differences in the interest of the party even in subsequent elections.
Others who spoke at the meeting including the Commissioner for Special Duties, West, Mr Churson Obosi and a Technical Adviser to the Governor, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, urged the people of Bayelsa West Senatorial District to maintain the prevailing unity, understanding and cooperation.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa.
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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