Politics
Body Tasks Nigerians On Engagement With Political Leaders
The Coordinator, Campaign for Transformative Governance (CFTG) in Rivers State, Comrade Samuel Chikweri, has called on Nigerians to learn how to engage political leaders in policy making beyond being passive participants in the democratic process.
Comrade Chikweri made the call during a Town Hall/Stakeholders meeting organised by CFTG at Rumuwoji, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, recently.
The Coordinator explained that the overall objective of the group was to mobilise Nigerians to not only participate in the democratic process but to continually engage with the political leaders in building and fashioning policies and programmes that will meet the aspirations and welfare of the people .
“The campaign for transformative governance is a Labour and pro- Labour Civil Society Coalition together with pro- democracy activists and other stakeholders. The idea behind the formation of this organization is to build a viable and broad based coalition of activists and stakeholders that will champion good and transformative governance at all levels of government in Nigeria”, he said.
He pointed out that prior to the 2023 general elections, the organization went round the various senatorial districts in the state and educated the citizens on the need to own up the political process.
He said his considered it imperative to hold regular interactions and meetings with political office aspirants and engage them with a charter of demands as a basis for their support.
The group’s leader further explained that the said charter of demands includes the basic needs and expectations of the citizens from their leaders when elected into political office.
“Today’s meeting is to review the outcome of that engagement prior to the election but more to discuss issues around local government administration in response to the latest developments in that tier of government”, he said .
On local government administration, he explained that as the tier of government closest to the people, it was expected that the power of the local government administration should be exploited to bring good governance to the community people and added that without such endeavour, their existence makes no significant meaning.
Another reason he put up for the meeting was to know whether or not the people’s aspirations or expectations was met by the government and their level of follow up or engagement with the government and political office holders representing them.
This, he said, will enable them prepare for other levels of engagement and activities in the future.
The meeting centered on discussion on issues of national development in Nigeria with emphasis on Rivers state.
In her reaction, Mrs Susan Oko-jaja, called on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to improve on their performance as they prepare for the forthcoming LGA elections in the state.
Mrs Oko-jaja said that the elections must be transparent, noting that the present administration under Governor Siminalayi Fubara was committed to having a peaceful and successful local councils election.
The panel of discussants at the occasion included, Port Harcourt based Social Commentator/Activist, Comrade Ikenda Elechi-Amadi; Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA) in Rivers State, Mrs Adata Bio-Briggs; the Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone F, Comrade Opaka Dokubo and Dr Fred Dunibari, an Environmental Rights Activist.
High light of the occasion was the unveiling of the Campaign For Transformative Governance CHARTER of DEMAND.
King Onunwor
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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