Politics
PDP Blames Lalong For Political Crises In Plateau
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State on Monday raised an alarm over tension in the State House of Assembly, following the purported impeachment of the Speaker of the House, and the apprehension in Langtang North LGA, where the incumbent chairman has not been allowed to settle in office despite a Court judgment.
Also, the embattled Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, Joshua Laven, said the action of the state government had raised serious tension in the council, saying it took the intervention of the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, to stem the tide in the council, if not there would have been a crisis.
The State House of Assembly has been in crisis since the impeachment of Abok Ayuba from his position as Speaker by eight members over a week ago.
Recall that Laven contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Amos Nanloh, for the chairmanship seat of Langtang North local government in 2018 and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) declared Nanloh elected and he was sworn in.
However, Laven went to court where the election was ruled in his favour and he was sworn in as duly elected chairman on October 9, 2019, for the period of three years.
But after spending two years in office, PLASIEC declared his seat vacant by an advertisement in the media which led Laven to approach the Court.
Delivering his judgment last Tuesday, Justice Ishaku Kunda of the State High Court, asked Laven to resume office immediately without delay to complete his three-year tenure which terminates on 9th October 2022 as he took an oath of office on the 9th of October, 2019.
Kunda described the whole scenario where Laven was stopped from completing his tenure as an act of “impunity, illegality and executive rascality which must end forthwith”.
The Judge said, “Laven’s tenure cannot be arbitrarily aborted before his tenure elapses.
“The election held thereof (9th October, 2021) was a nullity. Laven shall go back to the local government to complete his tenure as the Executive Chairman of the council. I hold and warn that the defendant (PLASIEC) should not disobey this judgement.”
Briefing journalists at the party secretariat in Jos, the PDP state chairman, Chris Hassan, said, “It is regrettable that, as a lawyer, Governor Lalong has embraced impunity and is conducting himself like a bull in a China Shop.
Hassan said, “Lalong is orchestrating this breach of the law and desperation in Langtang North barely over a week after he sponsored seven members of the State House of Assembly to commit illegality in the name of impeaching the Speaker.
“The PDP will continue to explore the instrumentality of the law against the brazen desperation and lack of direction of the APC-led administration in our dear State”, he stressed.
Also speaking, the State Legal Adviser of PDP, Barr. Binchen Jamtur, said, “Despite Justice Ishku Kunda’s declarative judgment reinstating Hon. Joshua Laven as chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, Governor Lalong has continued to use his agents and cronies to obstruct the course of justice and forcefully aid the ousted APC candidate to remain in office as chairman.
“Justice Kunda’s judgment granted the applicant five reliefs, and summarily indicated that judgment is declarative, meaning Hon. Laven is restored to his office with immediate effect, without any procedures or protocols associated with executionary judgment.
According to him, “Lalong is wilfully ignoring to create a crisis of legitimacy and identity of leadership in Langtang North and precipitate confusion and possible bloodshed”.
In his remarks, Joshua Laven, commended the newly posted Commissioner Police in the State, Batholomew Onyeka, saying, “He moved quickly to seal the Local Government Secretariat to avoid a clash between the two parties which may have led to bloodshed.
“However, we want the world to know that if there is any breakdown of law and order, Governor Lalong should be held responsible”, he stressed
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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