Politics
Count Odili Out Of Tribal Politics, Group Tells Obuah
A non-governmental political pressure group, the Ndoni Advocacy For Good Governance (NAFOGG) has charged former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Bro. Felix Obuah, to count the former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, out of tribal politics, describing Odili as a detribalised, peaceful and development-driven leader.
This is contained in a statement signed by the President of the group, Dr. Meshack Ekeh, Secretary, Apostle Cromwell Olisa and Director of Publicity and Mobilisation, Barrister Humphrey Jeremiah, respectively, and made public at Erema-Ndoni, recently.
The statement stressed that for the eight years, Odili, as governor of Rivers State, ran an administration without discrimination of any sort, adding that “Dr. Peter Odili who Obuah claimed is taking sides in the political crisis, which he and his godfather and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, among other political dissidents planned to unseat an elected and sitting Governor for unjustifiable reasons remains cheap political points to smear the good image of Dr. Odili”.
NAFOGG’s statement reads in part: “The attention of Ndoni Advocacy For Good Governance (NAFOGG) led by Dr. Meshack Ekeh, has been drawn to a purported condemnation of Dr. Peter Odili by Felix Obuah in a radio interview recently, accusing the former governor of taking side by supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara, instead of former governor, Nyesom Wike, and as such, failed to broker peace between the duo, as to move the state forward developmentally as a father.
“We are not surprised that Obuah has forgotten in a hurry that it was the same Odili who brought Wike, Amaechi, Obuah and others to political relevance in the state and country. If Odili had taken sides with anybody, they would not have been part of his government. As long as we are concerned, Obuah should go and bury his face in shame for supporting Wike who is poised to corner Rivers wealth and fortunes at the detriment of the people.
“We are also aware that it was the same Odili that brought out Wike and others from the wood and beautified them by giving Nyesom Wike, Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA for eight years, among other positions. He also championed the chairmanship cause of Felix Obuah for the sole of the PDP in the state. Obuah should stop biting the fingers that had fed him and made him, after God Almighty, who he is today.
“We, therefore, call on Felix Obuah to think of better things to do for himself rather than going from one media house to another to seek for sympathy”.
“What Odili did for Nyesom Wike, Chibuike Amaechi, Celestine Omehia and others, nobody has done one quarter of such in the business of governance. Therefore, Rivers, as a secular state, remained indivisible. As far as the group is concerned, we queue behind Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara who has surpassed the so-to-speak achievements of Nyesom Wike within the past seven months in the saddle of governance in the state”
The group accused Obuah and Wike of stirring political crisis across the 23 local government areas of the state because of their inability to have their way.
“Whether Obuah supports Wike or not, who God has ordained to rule the people, nobody can change it. Siminalayi Fubara is an ordained ‘servant-leader’ who has come to rescue Rivers people from political slavery, penury, hunger and deprivation”, they stressed.
The group warned that any further accusation against Dr Odili would be resisted, describing the claims of the former PDP boss in that interview as “cheap political propaganda of a failed political loser in the corridors of power”.
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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