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Amaechi Urges Unity Among Kalabaris

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Government House last week was a bit tensed following
the alleged shooting of Senator Magnus Abe and the disruption of a Save Rivers Movement rally in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area by the Nigeria police.
Senator Abe who was flown out of the country on Sunday shortly after the incident was feared to have been hit by objects on the chest suspected to be rubber bullets allegedly shot by men of the police, at the premises of the Rivers State College of Arts and Science where the rally was held.
On Monday, the leadership of the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) briefed newsmen in Port Harcourt. President of the group Mr. Charles Ahorlu told reporters that SRM had obtained a police permit since January 7th ahead of their rallies in Obio/Akpor and Khana Local Government Areas.
Describing police action as barbaric, the SRM chairman disclosed that already, a Senator representing South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Abe and some of its members were still missing.
As a non-governmental organisation, Ahorlu maintained that SRM has remained glued to its vision of fostering good governance, transparency and accountability and has since  commenced its sensitisation campaigns and remained law abiding with no history of violating law and order as painted by the police.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist and attorney to the Save Rivers Movement, Barrister Ken Atsuete has warned against retaining Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu in the state.
He revealed that the body is considering commencing content proceedings against the police for failing to comply with a ruling of a Court of Appeal on Public Order Act.
In the same vein, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Rivers State, Mr. Worgu Boms condemned police action on Sunday. He told newsmen in a press chat at his office in Port Harcourt that the Public Order Act has been voided by the courts.
He also said the police commissioner is trying to usurp the powers of the governor who is the only person empowered by the law to implement the Act.
Mr. Boms argued that every citizen was entitled to freedom of association and assembly, adding that the police does not have the right to disrupt a peaceful gathering of law abiding citizens. It is not enough to condemn the IGP, Police service commission but let them tell the world the order in which they acted upon”.
On Tuesday last week, the Senate Committee on Police visited Rivers State to obtain a first hand information on the abated SRM rally in the state during which Senator Abe was said to have been shot.
Led by its chairman, Paulinus Nwagwu, who was accompanied by a member of the committee, Senator Hadi Serika, the duo visited Governor Amaechi and later interviewed Chief of Staff Government House, Sir Tony Okocha.
Nwagwu later said, “We are on fact finding mission to find out exactly what happened, and what transpired between politicians and security agents. When we finish with our reports the public will hear from the senate”.
On Wednesday, Governor Chibuike Amaechi was at hand at the Isaac Boro Park to perform the yearly wreathe laying ceremony as part of activities to end the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations.
Shortly after the ceremony, the governor hosted members of the Nigerian legion in Government House, where he commended them for their sacrifice and support to government. He promised the sum of N2.5 million as welfare support for widows of ex-service men. He also promised to look into their request for the building of a permanent secretariat complex.
On Friday, the governor played host to Kalabari indigenes from the Oceanic communities of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. They include those from Abissa, Elem-Sangama Soku, Abissa and Idama. They were led by Prof. Tam David- West.
Amaechi commended them for their steadfastness, but however, deplored the discordant tunes in which the Kalabaris have spoken as regards the ceded Soku oil wells to Bayelsa State, “I expect to see patriotism on the side of the people”.

He believed that as a governor he would not keep silent over the matter as that would amount to betrayal. Amaechi maintained that he is the governor of Rivers State. He therefore called to vote out the PDP warning that, “If the PDP comes back for a second term then the oil well is finally gone”.
On the same Friday, members of the Rivers caucus in the National Assembly deplored police defiance and continuous disruption of rallies by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM).
The Rivers National Assembly members include Senator Wilson Ake, Honourable Asita, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, Chief Andrew-Uchendu, Hon. Sokonte Davies, and Hon. Poronen representing-Khana and Gokana Federal constituency.
They called on the police to provide security for SRM rally at Kana on Sunday, Senator Ake disclosed that already to body has written to the police, noting that members of the National Assembly are members of the body and will therefore attend the rally as part of inauguration activities.

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INEC Extends Candidate Submission Deadline Till ‘Morow

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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.

 

 

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2027: INEC Extends Submission Deadline For Assembly, Guber Candidates 

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties three extra days to complete the submission of candidates for the February 2027 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

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.

 

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Yilwatda’s Birthday Outreach Demonstrates Leadership – Kefas

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The Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has described the medical outreach organised by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as a powerful demonstration of leadership and compassion.

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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