Politics
Tribunal’s Verdict, Revalidation Of People’s Mandate To Fubara -Monarch
The Onye-Wen-Ali XIII of Egberu-Ndoki Kingdom, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Boniface Ejikeme Akawor, has described the judgment of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal as a revalidation of the people’s mandate to Governor Siminalayi Fubara on March 18, 2023.
Speaking while reacting to the recent verdict of the Tribunal that affirmed the election of Governor Fubara, Eze Akawor said he never doubted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be out of the unnecessary conspiracy by the petitioners unscathed because there was nothing to bother about.
He said it was only natural that Rivers people reciprocated the quality leadership and exceptional governance the State experienced for eight years under former Governor and present Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
Eze Akawor maintained that the massive votes for the PDP in all the polls were a pay back to the party and its governorship candidate, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
He used the opportunity to congratulate Governor Fubara on his victory at the court and promised his domain’s unwavering support and prayers for more breakthroughs in the years ahead.
He enjoined the opposition parties in the State to join hands with Governor Fubara to move the State to a more prosperous attainment, and shun the continuous discounting of the blessings of the State.
The paramount ruler of Egberu-Ndoki Kingdom also commended the tribunal judges and the dispassionate manner they handled the cases brought before the tribunal.
Meanwhile, Eze Akawor has appealed to Rivers people to give Governor Siminalayi Fubara more time to fix the state and provide dividends of democracy for them.
’’I really understood that Rivers people and Nigerians are going through trying times as a result of removal of fuel subsidies which has jerked up prices of goods and services.
“I plead that the Chief Executive Officer of the state should be given more time to work and fix the oil and gas rich state for the benefit of the people”, he said.
According to him, one hundred days in office is not enough to assess Governor Fubara’s achievements and its impact on the citizens.
Elaborating on the state of the nation currently, the monarch admonished Nigerians and Rivers leaders, stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious bodies, women and youth groups, among others, to rally round the governor to do the needful for the well-being of all and sundry in the state, adding that the will of God must prevail at all times.
By: Bethel Toby
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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