Politics
Anambra Poll Will Hold – INEC
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has assured voters and people of Anambra State that the November 6 governorship election will hold as scheduled.
Speaking during a meeting held at the INEC headquarters in Awka, he said the commission, in collaboration with all the security agencies, is ready for a free, fair and credible poll.
He urged security agencies to do everything possible towards ensuring sanity and orderliness before, during and after the process.
The INEC boss also disclosed that the candidates and political parties would today, during a stakeholders meeting, sign a peace accord to commit to a free and fair election.
He said the signing of the peace accord was part of measures to ensure peaceful conduct of the election
The Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr Echeng Echeng, said all boundaries linking the state with others would be locked down on Thursday night as part of measures to guarantee security within and outside the state.
He said during the period, vehicles and movement would not be allowed into the state, stressing that several camps of hoodlums have been identified and were being seriously monitored.
The CP also decried the ugly narratives from outsiders about the security situation in parts of the state.
Meanwhile, 13 governors who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday stormed the grand finale of the party’s governorship candidate, Valentine Ozigbo. They vowed to resist any plot to rig the election.
Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Anambra State governorship election, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, stated this during the party’s mega rally in Awka, to cap its campaign for the election.
Ikpeazu, who was accompanied by Governors Ifeanyi Okowa and Seyi Makinde of Delta and Oyo States respectively, reiterated the readiness of the PDP to “take back” the country from the All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2023 general elections.
Also yesterday, members of the caucus of the APC at Anambra House of Assembly paid a solidarity visit to the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Nkem Okeke.
The caucus members led by Timothy Ifediora (APC, Njidoka constituency), visited Okeke at his office in the Government House, Awka, along with others.
Responding, the deputy governor thanked the caucus members for visiting him, saying Anambra State cannot continue to be a lone ranger.
Meanwhile, Amnesty Nigeria has called on the federal government to ensure that the lives of citizens, journalists and INEC officials are protected during and after the Anambra election.
A statement by its media manager, Isa Sanusi, expressed concern on reports of violence targeting voters, political gatherings, security forces and INEC facilities.
The statement quoted its director, Osai Ojigho, saying the “Nigerian government must protect people from violence and ensure the full respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association before, during and after the upcoming gubernatorial election.
“The government must put in place measures to protect people including human rights defenders, election observers, and staff of INEC ahead of the 6 November election.”
He further asked government to ensure that security forces did not infringe on human rights while enforcing law and order during the period.
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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