Politics
APC Berates FG For ‘Militarizing’ Osun Election
Some members of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have condemned the deployment of heavy security operatives to Osun State by the Federal Government for last Saturday’s governorship elections.
Speaking to The Tide, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Chris Finborne, said the action of the Federal Government meant that the nation was far from practising democracy.
According to him, “the inherent danger in over guiding democracy is abuse due to weak institutions and that is why our security personnel are likely to find it attractive to arrest and assault members of the opposition to please the government of the day”.
The Care-Taker Committee Chairman of the Port Harcourt City, Mr Charles Paul Ejekwu, also condemned the deployment of heavy security personnel including the military to a single state, saying it shows the nasty desperation of clueless president to hold on to power”.
Paul who noted that the deployment of military troop to Osun and intimidation and arrest of APC leaders in that state could not work as the people came out to elect their governor, commended the people of Osun for resisting intimidation and making the right choice.
Also Speaking, the Publicity Secrtary of the APC, United Kingdom chapter, Mr Kenneth Onyeji, accused the Federal Government of making a mockery of democracy in Nigeria.
Onyeji, in a statement, accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal Government of disobeying the 2005 Court of Appeal judgment which declared the use of the military for election duties unconstitutional.
He regretted that despite the judgment, the President and the PDP have continued to militarize the election process, condemning the arrest of the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the media to aide National Leader of APC, Tinubu, Sunday Dare and other 150 APC members.
According to him, “What is taking place under the watch of President Jonathan is democratic tyranny. Nigerian is not practicing true democracy”.
He called on international communities and all lovers of democracy and friends of Nigeria around the world not to standby and silently watch Nigeria unravel and descent into darkness and draconia .
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC), has declared the incumbent governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the 2014 governorship elections.
The APC candidate won elections in 22 out of the 30 local government areas of the state, scoring a total of 394,684 votes to beat his main rival and candidate of the PDP Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Omisore, who scored 292,747 votes.
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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