Politics
Amaechi Hosts Other Governors
The 4th retreat of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, held last
weekend in Port Harcourt, over-shadowned many activities that took place in Government House last week.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi had returned to the state on Wednesday after receiving united Nations Association Fellowship Award in Gevera Switzerland following his contributions and achievements in Education sector which placed Rivers State as the best state in Nigeria with 21st Century Educational facilities.
UNITAR Country Director, Larry Boms said, “Governor Amaechi is recognized for his leadership in governance, infrastructural development social economic development and distributional equity and justice”.
The award entitles the governor with a United Nations Diplomatic Immunity while on UN assignments.
Within the week under review, The Rivers State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Worgu Boms last Monday dismissed the story making the round that a High Court Judge in the State Judiciary has been appointed Administrative Judge by the National Judicial Service Commission (NJC).
Boms stated that the National Judicial Service Commission and the Rivers State Judiciary were incapable of making such appointment and urged the general public to disregard such rumours, and equally warned those peddling the rumours to desist forthwith, or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
On Friday morning, Governor Amaechi, through his Chief Press Secretary, expressed condolence to the people of Kano Emirate over the death of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, describing the death of the Monarch as a huge loss to the nation.
“Nigeria has lost a reputable icon, an excellent traditional ruler, and one of the most revered”, the governor stated.
The fourth NGF Retreat commenced on Thursday in Port Harcourt with the arrival of some governor to the State. A meeting of the governors was held on Thursday night breaking Friday for the final retreat.
On Friday, the final lapse of the retreat took off with Governor Amaechi presiding. It was an open session for both government officials and journalists who were accredited for the programme.
In his opening remarks, Governor Amaechi stated that the programme was coming at a critical time in the nation’s life and therefore was geared towards addressing dire challenges facing the country.
He said since most of the governors, about 19 of them were nearing the end of their tenure, there was the need for governors to ensure that the meeting target points, saying, “what we do as governors toward the end of our administration may mar or make our administrative”.
The Rivers State governor also used the retreat to call on all the governors to close ranks and jettison all forms of division and acrimony as it would help make the forum a formidable force in instituting democracy in the country.
Amaechi also expressed hope that the 2015 elections would further deepen democracy and promote the rights of the minority, while commending the NGF secretariat for the hardwork and for coming up with a Transitioning Guide Book for members.
Shortly after Governor Amaechi’s remarks, the first session on Governors Transitioning was discussed with the former President of Liberia, Prof. Amos Sawyer Chairing Sawyer underscored the need for governors to see their position as a trust to serve the people and leaving a lasting legacy.
The last session which dwelt on Youth Employment, however, drew most reactions, especially from Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole, Governor Amaechi and President of Nigeria Economic Society, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye.
At the end of the retreat, an 11-point communiqué was read by Governor Amaechi with the promise by the governors to focus on good governance, service delivery in their respective states through employment generation.
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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