Politics
2023: Presidency Should Return To South For Fairness, Equity, Good Conscience – Ortom
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said that the presidency of Nigeria should return to the South in 2023 in the interest of fairness, equity, and good conscience.
The Governor, who stated this at the weekend when the Governor of Ekiti State and All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Dr Kayode Fayemi paid him a courtesy call in Makurdi, however noted that he would queue behind anyone his party nominates as its candidate ahead of the general election.
Governor Ortom said: “Some of us have made our position clear, we are from the North but we believe in Southern President for fairness, equity and justice. That is why myself and Sen. Gabriel Suswam are working for southern President.
“The truth must be told to the people who have conscience that the Presidency should be given back to the South. But we will queue up behind any candidate that emerges.”
The Governor commended his Ekiti State counterpart for joining the presidential race saying, “you have capacity, charisma and education to lead the country.”
He called on Nigerians to put religious and political differences aside and work together to save the country from its current security and economic challenges.
He said: “We need divine intervention in our country today. Our country has been taken from top to bottom. Just look at the challenges we are facing today. It requires PDP, APC and non-partisan people to change.
“Political parties are not the problem. In politics it is a matter of interest, no permanent enemy or friend because the fence is not tall. Our interest must be about the country. Today, we are challenged whether APC or PDP.
“Look at the issue of insecurity which has never been witnessed in the history of our country. Today, the economy of this country has gone down.
“It is not about President Buhari, PDP or APC, it is about Nigerians. We used to be called the Giant of Africa, I do not know whether we are now the grasshoppers of Africa.”
Earlier, the APC Presidential aspirant who stated that it was customary for him to visit his colleague before moving to the APC State Secretariat to meet with delegates in continuation of his consultations, identified retooling of the armed forces, effective intelligence gathering and strengthening the use of technology to tackle security as some of his core areas of interest if elected President.
He also said: “We need to restore the confidence of our people so that they can return to their own economic opportunity. We must stem the tide of insurgency, banditry and criminality of all kinds.
“That is in the short term. In a more sustainable term, we must address the triggers of insecurity. And what are these triggers, there is extreme inequality in our society, there is poverty in our society, there is youth frustration in our society.
“And if we do not address these sociological underpinnings of society over the long term, we will not be able to fully and comprehensively respond to challenges of the moment. So if the party chooses me as its candidate and Nigerians invest with their support, you can be sure that this will be my number one priority.”
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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