Politics
2023: PDP Stakeholders Root For Wike
As the battle to secure the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections gathers momentum, stakeholders of the party have rooted for the Rivers State Governor and foremost aspirant of the position, Nyesom Wike, to be the flagbearer of the party.
This is as the Rivers State Governor continues his consultations across the country, soliciting for the ticket to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential elections.
Addressing PDP delegates in Niger State, during Governor Wike’s consultation visit to the state, within the week, elder statesman and PDP stalwart, Prof Jerry Gana endorsed Governor Wike’s presidential ambition and urged the party delegates to throw their weight behind the Rivers State Governor as he has the capability and capacity to bring solutions to the teething problems of the country.
Gana who commended Governor Wike over his development strides in Rivers State said the Governor would apply such grit to tackle insecurity and end the infrastructural deficit in the country.
On her part, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Sen Zainab Kure praised Governor Wike over his leadership style, particularly his gender-friendly policies, and described him as a man with passion for good governance.
She pointed out that Governor Wike has contributed a lot to the development of the PDP and would not disappoint the party and Nigerians if given the opportunity to serve as the President.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the PDP in Niger State, Tanko Beji commended Governor Wike for his efforts in building the party, and cautioned against giving the ticket to someone who will end up becoming a sectional President.
Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike on Friday submitted his filled and completed presidential nomination form to the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Hon Umar Bature through Sen Suleiman Nazif at the party’s national secretariat.
The delegation to the PDP national secretariat was led by Senator George Sekibo, representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Speaking at the event, Sen Sekibo said Rivers State PDP and indeed the entire Rivers people were proud of Governor Wike over his testimonial of good leadership which is evident in the state.
He said Governor Wike has the capacity to replicate such leadership at the national level if elected as the President of Nigeria.
Describing Governor Wike as a bridge builder, Sekibo said Wike will effectively address the problems of insecurity and revive the economy of Nigeria.
On his part, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Hon Umar Bature stated that all presidential aspirants would be given a level playing field.
By: Beemene Tanee
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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