Politics
Rivers SDP Leader Dumps Party, Declares Support For Fubara
The Rivers South East Chairman of the Social Democratic Party ( SDP), Chief Mike Amakiri, and his teeming supporters have dumped the party and declared their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking at an event organized by Ida Obolo Sim Vanguard in Port Harcourt, Chief Amakiri said his decision to support the Governor was in appreciation of his excellent performance within the few months in office.
He said it was incumbent on all ethnic nationalities in Rivers State to support Governor Siminialaye Fubara as the Ijaws had as well supported other Governors before him.
According to him, power comes from God and Rivers State cannot have two governors at the same time, adding that Governor Siminalayi Fubara deserves the support of all ethnic nationalities to enable him develop the State.
Chief Amakiri who was also the leader of SDP in Andoni Local Government Area emphasmed that the Ijaws in Rivers State had supported other Governors since 1999, stressing that it was time for other ethnic groups in the state to reciprocate by giving their full and unflinching support to the state governor.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Edison Ehie, has declared that Governor Fubara’s eight years tenure as Governor of Rivers State was already guaranteed in view of the monumental development projects going on across the state.
The Speaker who was represented by a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Evans Bipi, also said equity and justice demand that Sir Fubara completes his eight years as other governors before him had done
Rt Hon. Ehie who spoke while welcoming Chief Amakiri into the fold of the ‘Simplified’ family noted that power comes from God and there was nothing any body could do about it.
He said the time had come for Rivers people to speak up, adding that this was not the time for people to sit on the fence.
The Speaker urged the former SDP leader to show both in words and actions that he belongs to the Fubara political family by reaching out to those who are still sitting on the fence.
He commended him for being the first to declare public support for Governor Fubara and charged him to ensure that Andoni Local Government Area is ‘Simplified’.
Also speaking, the leader of Ida Obolo Sim Vanguard, Engr Kingston Silvanus said the occasion was an indication that men of value and influence were beginning to identify with Governor Fubara.
He also said with the defection of Chief Amakiri to the Sir Fubara political family, the Governor had no more opposition in Andoni Local Government Area.
Engr Silvanus who is a former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area described Chief Amakiri as one of the greatest politicians in Andoni, adding that his defection was a big sign of relief to the Ida Obolo Sim Vanguard and the entire Sir Siminalaye Fubara political family in Rivers state.
“Men of value and great people of wisdom and influence are identifying with the Governor.
“Iam happy that Chief Amakiri has identified with the Governor and the people of Andoni are happy to see chief Amakiri and his teeming supporters identify with the Governor”, he said.
The Ida Obolo Sim Vanguard leader also said the organisation was happy over the victory of Sir Fubara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) at the Court of Appeal.
Earlier, the Coordinator, Ida Obolo Sim Vanguard, Chief-elect Fred Uwuikor Usende, said Chief Amakiri had taken the right decision, stressing that he was entitled to all rights and privileges as far as Ida Obolo Sim Vanguard is concerned.
He urged Obolo sons and daughters to emulate Chief Amakiri by also coming out to support the Governor.
By: John Bibor
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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