Politics
Amaechi Swears-In LG Caretaker Committee Chairmen
Activities in Government House last week experienced high level of political meetings, coupled with Governor Amaechi’s birthday on Tuesday.
On Monday, when the governor arrived ahead of his birthday on Tuesday, well wishers, friends and political associates had started trooping to congratulate the Rivers State Chief Executive.
So on Tuesday, as part of activities to mark the governor’s 49th birthday, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi in his usual manner, went to observe the International Children’s Day, held at the Civic Centre. This year, the State Government had decided to mark the ceremony in a low key over the abducted schools girls in Borno State, A special prayer sessions was held in its place.
From there, the governor proceeded to Degema in Degema Local Government Area where he read a book on Florence Nightingale to pupils of Church State School, Degema. The exercise was part of his annual birthday ritual.
In the evening, he addressed youths in the state at a Special Youth Interactive Forum to mark his birthday. He told youths that he was satisfied with his performance so far. “I continue to tell Rivers people that I can show the world what I have done.” So far, he listed his achievements which covers over 300 new model primary schools, seven new model secondary schools, and over 150 model health centres.
Amaechi said by the time he would be leaving office, he would be happy and satisfied and therefore challenged the youths to ensure that a good government was elected in 2015.
The governor later received German Consular-General, Michael Derus, who pledged partnership in the area of cooperation between Germany and Rivers State in vocational training, small scale business development and infrustimenture.
On Wednesday, the Rivers State Governor had announced a “Black Wednesday” for all civil servants and government officials. They were to wear black dresses to work to mourn the abducted Chibock girls.
Also on Wednesday, the State Government organized the Second Democracy and Good Governance Lecture held at the new Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt. Governor Amaechi used the forum to deplore the federal government’s inability to tackle corruption and security challenges. He, therefore, urged the people to vote out the PDP led administration in order to have change and better governance in 2015.
The governor on Thursday held several stakeholders meeting ahead the dissolution of the council chairmen whose tenure elapsed on Friday. The meeting continued till Friday as new caretaker members were being constituted.
Amaechi had on Wednesday, played host to the Dean of the Anglican Church, Bishop Ignatius Kattey who had visited with Synod members of the Niger Delta North Diocese to intimate the governor of their programme at St Barnabas Church Elekakia.
On Friday, Governor Amaechi was at a special programme organized by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) at the Convocation Arena of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, while on Saturday, he attended the burial ceremony of Deaconess Cecilia Eguma Ake, mother to Senator representing Rivers West, Wilson Ake at Erewa Town in Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
From Erema Town, the Governor proceeded to Abonnema Town in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, where he witnessed the one year anniversary of the Amayanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel.
On his return from Erema and Abonnema, Governor Amaechi swore-in the 21 chairmen of Caretaker Committee for local government councils, as well as the new chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro who replaced Chief Azubuike Nmerukini.
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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