Politics
Rivers PDP Campaign: Wike Rates Obio/Akpor, Khana, Akuku Toru Best In Mobilisation
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State on Saturday concluded its campaign rallies in a grand finale at Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The Obio/Akpor campaign rally, which held at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, was attended by a mammoth crowd of party supporters and other stakeholders who thronged the venue to register their solidarity with the party.
Impressed by the huge turn out, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, while addressing the crowd, described the Obio/Akpor outing as the ‘Mother of all rallies’.
In his assessment of the entire campaign across the 23 LGAs of the state, Governor Wike rated Obio /Akpor, Khana and Akuku Toru LGAs respectively as the best in organisation and mobilisation and applauded the PDP leaders in these LGAs for their tactfulness and great capacities for coordination.
Governor Wike urged the people of Obio/ Akpor to convert their huge voting strength to victory for all candidates of the PDP in the state.
On the forthcoming Presidential polls, Governor Wike urged Rivers people not to vote for those who arrogate exclusive political powers to themselves without considering other parts of the country.
He reiterated that Rivers State would not trade its votes away without proper recompense and recognition in the scheme of things, noting that those who do not have Rivers State at heart should not expect votes from the state.
In similar vein, the Rivers State PDP last Friday held its campaign rally at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni LGA where Governor Wike used the opportunity to express his discontent over the implementation of currency swap policy by the President Muhammadu Buhari government, stating that the manner of implementation of the policy was insensitive to the plight of the masses.
He pointed out that the President’s decision to flout the orders of the Supreme Court was a threat to the rule of law and a constitutional democracy and therefore a prelude to anarchy.
The Rivers State Governor dissociated himself from the policy which he noted had caused Nigerians severe hardship.
In his campaign message, Governor Wike said a new era of political freedom and liberty that will fast-track development had heralded in Andoni. He urged the people to protect their political freedom from the shackles of bad leadership that previously denied them democratic dividends.
He described the completion of Andoni axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road which led to the successful driving to Ngo Town for the campaign as a major breakthrough for the people and urged the people to vote for Siminialayi Fubara and other candidates of the PDP in the area to attract more development projects to Andoni.
The PDP campaign train also landed at Tai LGA on Thursday with Gov Wike insisting that the PDP in Rivers State would refuse to be distracted by opposition forces but galvanize its support base to coast home to victory for all its candidates.
The Governor charged the people of Tai to remain supportive of the PDP by voting massively for Sir Siminalayi Fubara and other candidates of the party in the state to consolidate on the development gains already achieved by his administration.
AkukuToru and Ahoada LGAs also on Monday and Tuesday respectively, hosted the campaign rallies of the PDP, with Governor Wike charging the people to vote for Siminialayi Fubara and other candidates of the party for continuity and consolidation.
The Governor on Wednesday played host to Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his entourage who were on a courtesy call in Government House, Port Harcourt, shortly after the presidential campaign rally of the APC in the state capital.
Addressing the APC Presidential Candidate, Governor Wike expressed concern over the unfolding events in the country which he noted were not palatable to the country’s democratic transition. He called on the APC presidential candidate to prevail on his party to exercise restraint and caution in their policies in order not to derail the present transition process.
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.
-
News3 days agoRSG Targets Nine Million Residents in Mosquito Net Distribution Campaign
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoAiyedatiwa Signs New Electricity Bill
-
Maritime3 days agoMarine Minister Commends President Tinubu On NPERA Bill Assent
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoNLNG Commissions Research And Innovation Centre In RSU
-
News3 days agoKenPoly Holds Eight Convocations, August 29
-
News3 days agoRSG Begins Another Phase of Projects Commissioning Today
-
News3 days agoRMAFC Completes Revenue Sharing Review, Proposes New Pay
-
Maritime3 days agoNAGAFF Petitions IGP Over Alleged Maritime Police Harassment