Politics
PDP Chieftain Cautions Against Disunity, Rebellion In S/West
A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, yesterday urged stakeholders to shun rebellion and disunity ahead of the South-West zonal congress.
Pearse who made this appeal in an interview with The Tide source in Lagos warned against holding of parallel congress by dissenting voices.
He said the repercussions of such would be disastrous for the rebels and the party in the zone as 2023 elections approach.
“As the Chairman and the Chief Returning Officer of the South-South Zonal Congress which held in Port Harcourt on March 9, I witnessed the benefits accruing to states who cooperate with their governors.
“Sure there were dissenting voices, but those who disagreed with the status quo did so with decency.
“They did not go to the extent of organising a parallel congress, realising that such reckless action will always fail, and rebellion which threatens the party’s unity usually has painful repercussions for the rebels,” he said.
Pearse appealed to Lagos delegates to support candidates of Governor Seyi Makinde for the good of the PDP in the state.
According to him, Makinde, being the zonal leader of the party as the only PDP governor from the region, means well for the state, hence the need to vote for Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, and the other candidates put forward by him.
“Dear delegates, anyone who has interacted with Governor Makinde will testify to his commitment to Lagos, a state which like other governors across the nation, he regards as the centre piece of our great party’s strategy for national victory.
“Your vote at the South West zonal Congress for Amb.Taofeek Arapaja and others on the Makinde ticket will help to strengthen our party in the zone and encourage our only governor to keep his promise to help strengthen Lagos State PDP.
“An issue which should be of particular interest to all delegates from Lagos State is that Governor Makinde has pledged to assist the party in Lagos with resources and logistics, before and during upcoming elections.
“The governor came up with his list of candidates after painstaking research, and wide consultation with all critical stakeholders in the zone,” he said.
He said that emerging from Makinde’s diligent effort was the list of candidates that were best qualified, most experienced, tried and trusted.
Pearse said that it was very likely that Makinde’s candidates would win the day because an incumbent governor has mostly what it takes to influence the outcome of the congress.
According to him, as things stand, it is likely that the Arapaja team will get most of the delegates votes from Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti.
“If we add the huge number of delegates from Makinde’s home state of Oyo, all the team needs from Lagos State is a about 30 per cent. Why should you abandon this victory team to follow the fickle illusion,” he asked.
Recall that the zonal congress which was postponed indefinitely in March has been fixed for April 10 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
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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