Politics
PVC, Vote Buyers Commit Same Offence – Fubara … PDP Boss Assures On Ogoni/Andoni Unity Road Completion
The Peoples Democratic Party’s, (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 general elections in Rivers State, Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara, has admonished the electorate not to give any information about their PVC to anyone.
The PDP standard bearer gave the admonition in his address at the Grassroots Development Initiative’s (GDI) Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) Collection Sensitization Rally that held at Mogho in Gokana Local Government Area.
AmaopuSenibo Fubara said very soon some persons would approach them with all sorts of empowerment packages in order to get their PVCs, but warned that under no circumstances should they compromise by giving them the PVC or information on the PVC.
“Some people will come and promise you empowerment. These are people who have not remembered you for these many years. Don’t give your PVC information to them. Safeguard your PVC.
“The person that will give you money for your PVC commits the same offence as the person that will give you money for vote. Please don’t fall for them for any reason “, he warned.
He thanked the people of Gokana for their support for the GDI,assuring that the support would not go unrewarded.
Describing the mammoth crowd that attended the occasion as ‘Gokana Earthquake’, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, said he decided to attend the rally at Gokana in order to visit his friends, especially those in Ward 16.
Ambassador Akawor, who is also the chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), expressed gratitude to the GDI for what it is doing in enlightening the people of Rivers State on the need to collect their PVCs while thanking Gokana people for their impressive turnout.
In his own remarks, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr Emeka Woke, advised media houses to be objective in their reportage and avoid sensationalism.
He said he was at the event to confirm if GDI had no supporters in Gokana as was being speculated in the media but noted that the body still commands enormous support in the area.
He thanked the people of the area for believing in the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, which has brought development to them.
The rally which attracted the creme de la creme of the Gokana political elite including Chief Kenneth Kobani, Dr Fred Kpakol, Chief /Mrs Priscillia Vikue, among others took place at Central State School field, Mogho.
The mammoth crowd at the rally from the 17 wards of Gohana was intimidating, an indication of the overwhelming support Gokana people have given to the Grassroots Development initiative, as confirmed by the stakeholders in their solidarity speeches.
The stakeholders assured GDI and, by extension the PDP, that their support remained is irrevocable.
High point of the event was a procession by the 17 wards in the local government area .
Meanwhile, the GDI PVC Collection Sensitization train landed in Andoni Local Government Area on Monday with the PDP Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor assuring the people of the area that the Ogoni-Andoni Unity Road project remained a top priority project of the Wike led administration.
Ambassador Akawor who stated this while addressing the people of Andoni during the sensitization program held at State School, Asarama, said though the road is one of the most expensive projects, the present administration was determined to complete it.
While announcing that the contractor would soon move to site, IPAC Chairman in the state appealed for the cooperation of the people of the area so that the project could be completed as planned.
“The Ogoni-Andoni Unity road is one of the most expensive projects in Rivers State. The Governor has made commitment that the road must be completed. This is the desire of the Governor of Rivers state.
After the construction, Andoni will no longer be a riverine community, Andoni will become upland”, he said.
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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