Politics
Nov 11 Poll: LP Chieftain Set To Dump Party For PDP In Bayelsa
A former Bayelsa State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 gubernatorial primaries, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, has indicated his desire to defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
This came to light at the weekend during a chat with Newsmen in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Chief Ikiogha, a pioneer alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt is a bosom friend of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The party chieftain revealed that his political sojourn to the Labour Party during and after the just concluded presidential elections and the governorship primaries in the state was borne out of his desire to develop the state.
The Tide learnt that Chief Ikiogha who had also been a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) during the 2019 governorship poll had also been appointed by previous administrations as Commissioner and Chief of Staff, Government House, respectively.
He noted that his planned defection to the PDP was largely premised on Governor Diri’s sterling performance in office, especially in the area of infrastructural development, saying that he (Diri) was also one of the founding fathers of the state, and that prior to the formation of the APC and his (Ikiogha) pitching of tent with the LP recently, he had been a member of the PDP where he served the state in various capacities.
“The reasons why I defected from the PDP to the APC, and from the APC to the Labour Party, and now going back to the PDP, my original party, was due to my quest to see the rapid development of Bayelsa State. And for me, I’m so worried that Nigeria and my state, Bayelsa, haven’t reached the height they ought to have attained as a state and nation”, he said.
The Epie-born politician who lauded the state governor for his developmental milestones, however noted that his reason for leaving the Labour Party was because of the fractionalization of the party from the state to the national Secretariat.
This is just as he maintained that upon consultations with his political associates and friends, he believed the only alternative for him was to return to the PDP where his services and contributions were better acknowledged.
“I’ve compared, consulted and critically analysed that none of the candidates can unseat governor Douye Diri in the forthcoming November 11 Polls in the state.
“Diri is one of the founding fathers of the state, and so he knew the problems and challenges of the state, and he’s solving them gradually. The Governor has a listening ear, and has promised to right all perceived wrongs within his time in office”, he said.
“I’ve met with the governor and informed him of my desire to return to the PDP after my sojourn in both the APC and Labour Party.
“But before I finally move back to the PDP on the 31st of this October, 2023 I’d want to consult with the father of all Bayelsans and by extension, father of all Nigeria’s current politicians. And you know whom I’m talking about”, Ikiogha added in apparent reference to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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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