Politics
2023: Igbo-Eze North Holds Million-Man March For Ugwuanyi, Mbah
Enugu-Ezike, the council headquarters of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area in Enugu State shut down on Saturday as stakeholders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) In the area held a “million-man march” for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the PDP candidate for governor, Dr Peter Mbah, with an assurance to mobilise 100 per cent votes for the duo during the general elections.
The large crowd which gathered at the pavilion of the local government headquarters in Ogrute marched through the major roads leading to Nsukka, Ette and Obollo Afor. Though it was an Eke market day, many of the excited supporters shunned the Eke Ozzi market to participate in the rally.
Speaking after the solidarity march, the chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Prince Ejike Itodo, said the solidarity march was a show of strength of the party in the council area in its avowed determination to record 100 per cent votes for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is going to the Senate of Enugu North Zone and Peter Mbah who by the grace of God will be the next governor of Enugu State.
While announcing permission for Hon. Simon Atigwe, Member Representing Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency who was unavoidably absent owing to flight delay from Abuja, he said the votes of the entire people of Igbo-Eze North belong to the PDP as they will vote across the board for all the PDP candidates in Enugu State.
He said that the people at the grassroots know they belong to the PDP and will make a statement with their voters’ cards during the election away from the euphoria of social media noise.
PDP Chairman, Igbo-Eze North, Chief Alex Urama said the entire 20 wards in Igbo-Eze North belong to the PDP and they will vote 20 over 20 overwhelmingly for the party and its candidates during the general elections.
He said it was a thing of joy to record an unprecedented crowd of supporters of the party and expressed optimism that the tempo will be maintained even after the elections to prove to other parties that they are not on the ground in the area.
Special Adviser to the Governor, Hon Kentus Ezeh said the unprecedented crowd that participated in the solidarity march clearly demonstrated the fact that no other party can beat PDP in Igbo-Eze North.
He said Igbo-Eze North and Enugu State in general stands for the PDP and will speak accordingly during the elections.
Candidate of the party for Enugu State House of Assembly Igbo-Eze North Constituency 1, Hon. Ngozi Ezeja thanked those who have kept faith in God and in the party over the years. She said that all their toils would never be in vain as their efforts would be crowned with success.
The Candidate for Igbo-Eze North 2 Constituency, Hon. Clifford Obe appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi for creating an enabling ground for the people to congregate freely.
He solicited total commitment from all and sundry towards making the anticipated victory a reality during the polls.
Zonal Chairman of PDP Nze Mike Onyeze said the people of Igbo –Eze North will show appreciation to Governor Ugwuanyi for his sterling performance in office and love for the people of Igbo-Eze North by voting for the PDP during the elections.
He pointed out the recent appointment of a son of Igbo-Eze North as the Vice Chancellor of the State University of Medical Sciences (SUMAS) as an example of the governor’s benevolence to the people.
Another stakeholder, Hon. Onyekachi Ogwuche said the mammoth crowd has shown where the people are going in 2023, noting that other parties were yet to find their feet.
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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