Politics
Rivers APC Denies Destroying Nigerian Flag …Warns PDP Against Violence
L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Barry Mpigi, former National Deputy Chairman, PDP, Dr Sam Sam Jaja and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, casting their votes during Rivers State APC congress in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
The Rivers State chap
ter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied its involvement in the alleged destruction of the Nigerian flags and flags belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Sate.
The destructed flags, The Tide learnt, were hoisted by the State PDP in preparation for President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the State, this weekend. The visit, according to our sources, has however, been put off due to security reasons.
Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, described the PDP’s claim as false and spurious.
Ikanya stated that no APC member was involved in the destruction of the Nigerian flags or flags belonging to another political party.
He said that the allegation might be another ploy by the state PDP to start destroying APC’s billboards across the state, thereby causing confusion in the state.
The APC chairman recalled similar allegation in which the state PDP had erroneously accused the APC and the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of kidnapping three members of the PDP, adding that the police had since arrested the culprits, who were found to be non-members of the APC.
He stated that the arrest by the police had vindicated the APC, pointing out that neither Amaechi nor the party believes in violence.
“They (PDP) only want to embarrass our party. Instead of the PDP to talk about why the state (Rivers) has no federal presence, they have been raising frivolous allegations against the governor and the APC,” he said.
He, however, warned politicians to desist from planning to unleash violence during the 2015 elections, saying, the APC would not allow any political party to rig the 2015 elections.
According to the APC chairman, “politicians should desist from planning to unleash violence because anybody who takes another man’s life should know that his own life will also be taken away.
“Let nobody plan bloodshed because nobody has the monopoly of violence. The law enforcement agencies should be neutral. If the police are neutral and non-partisan, corrupt politicians will not have the opportunity to unleash violence in 2015,”.
Meanwhile, the party has described as ridiculous the claim by the Supervising Minister of Education,Chief Nyesom Wike, that Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and his supporters were planning to return to the PDP.
Ikanya who dismissed the claims, said that it was false that the APC was afraid of the PDP in the state, adding that Wike’s statement was intended to boost the morale of his depleting party and supporters.
Wike had, during the first anniversary of Felix Obuah administration as the state PDP chairman, alleged that Governor Amaechi and his supporters were planning to return to the PDP.
Chikwere Chuks
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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