Politics
Amaechi Visits Market To Buy Fruits
Activities in Government House last week did not
experience any lull despite the absence of the governor for few days from the state.
The International Women’s Day was commemorated by the Ministry of Women Affairs, coupled with various meetings held by the wife of the governor, dame Judith Amaechi with women groups across the state.
The governor’s wife had earlier in the week taken swipes at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being insensitive to the plight of the kidnapped students at Chibok Secondary School in Borno State.
Speaking through her Media Assistant, Mr. Bekwele Dike last Tuesday, Mrs Amaechi said no responsible organisation would deride the fate and efforts to rescue those innocent schools girls.
She spoke against the backdrop of accusation by the PDP that she had been indifferent to the campaign to release the girls. She said as a responsible mother, she shares in the excruciating pains of parents whose children are still in the hands of terrorists and their location still unknown.
On the same Thursday, the governor returned to the state and continued the usual project site visits, as he inspected ongoing construction works in the state.
On Friday morning, Governor Amaechi visited the popular Fruit Garden Market to buy some fruits. He was nearly mobbed by the excited market women but for security details. He said he decided to buy the fruits himself to show that he was afterall human and is not barred by public office to participate in daily routines of life.
Later in the day, he played host to the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers at Exectuve Council Chambers, where he decried the attitude of prominent Ikwerre politicians, especially the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who according to the governor, betrayed him.
He used the visit to harp on the need for the Ikwerres to give room for other parts of the state to aspire to be governor, saying he, as a governor, has ensured that development touches all part of the state.
From there, Amaechi proceeded to the Banquet Hall where he addressed women groups under the banner of Forum of Women in Political Positions. After listening to various speeches made by top women politicians and that of his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, Rt. Hon. Amaechi enjoined the women to rise up to the challenge of aspiring to political positions.
He urged the women to form “political cells”, to ensure they monitor and protect their interest during the 2015 elections. He also promised to support the loan scheme for women and to offer scholarships to women to study abroad.
On Saturday, the governor represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha, paid condolence visits to APC faithful who lost their loved ones.
He first visited the Umunakwe family in Rumueme over the loss of their mother, Madam Eunice Emeh.
From Rumueme, the Chief of Staff proceeded to Rumuokparali for the burial of Mr. Azuwene Wrokor, and also paid a condolence visit to the family of Elder Ogondah Worlu at Rumuichi Worlu in Rumuigbo. He also inspected the new Obio/Akpor APC office at Rumuigbo.
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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