From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Majority Leader of the Benue State House of Assembly and member representing Kwande West State Constituency under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Thomas Dugeri, has dumped  APC and joined the main opposition  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dugeri was formally presented to the  immediate past Governor of Benue State and leader of the PDP in the state, Chief Samuel Ortom, at the former governor’s residence in Abuja by the Deputy Chairman of  PDP in the State, Adzua Ashongo.

During the meeting, which was his first with the Benue PDP leader since joining the party, Dugeri expressed appreciation to Chief Ortom, other leaders and members of the PDP for the warm reception accorded him since his defection.

He particularly thanked PDP members in Kwande and across Benue State for embracing him and his supporters, describing the reception as encouraging.

The lawmaker who is State Assembly Candidate for Kwande West State Constituency for the 2027 elections, assured the party of his unflinching loyalty and commitment, pledging to work with other stakeholders towards securing victory for the PDP at all levels in the 2027 general election.

Receiving Hon. Dugeri and welcoming him to the party, Chief Ortom assured him and his supporters of equal opportunities and a level playing field within the PDP.

The former governor described the PDP as a broad political family where both old and new members have an equal role to play in strengthening the party and advancing its quest to return to power in Benue State in 2027.

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has said he didn’t bargain for the “deluge” of good will messages, which came his way on  his 70^th birthday, on August 8.

In a statement at the weekend, the former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) said  while it was “no doubt a privilege worthy of appreciation to attain the age of three scores and ten on August 8, 2026” he   was overwhelmed by the show of love from   different parts of the country and beyond.

“My attempts to write individualized responses to the thousands of messages have come to nought as I lose count of who and what messages to respond to.

“I take this opportunity therefore, to convey my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the multitude of well wishers across all divides who have, in their various ways shared the momentous day with me. 

I, however, want to thank notably, Allah (SWT) for enabling the attainment as well as so many other favours that only He is capable of” he said in the statement to the media.

He appreciated President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu,    the Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr Tajuddeen Abbas,  Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, members of the National Assembly, the set of 1999 governors and other former governors, His Highness Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, Emir of Zazzau and several other Emirs and Chiefs from both within and outside Kaduna State, leaders of various political parties, other political leaders as well as candidates to various offices across partisan divides, religious leaders, and friends and well-wishers, as stated   who he said either called or wrote goodwill messages to him.

“I equally appreciate the numerous youths and youth groups that took to the social media to felicitate with me.

I want to say that the various messages, many of which described me in superlatives that made me wonder as to who the references are, have humbled me but at the same time will serve as a tonic that gingers me to continue to give my best to support the unity, peace and progress of our country and its people” he stated.

He urged his friends, political associates and supporters to close ranks and confront the myriad of problems bedeviling the nation saying the challenges were surmountable with a strong will and spirit.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the submission of the list of candidates for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections for the 2027 general elections to Aug. 11.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced the extension in a statement in Abuja.

Haruna noted that the extension of the deadline for the upload of nominations onto the commission’s dedicated portal followed appeals by political parties.

“The submission window which, according to the revised time table and schedule of activities for the general elections, originally scheduled to close on Saturday, Aug.

“The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process,” he said.

Haruna also notified voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced permanent voter cards (PVCs) that the window to print downloadable copies of their cards would expire by midnight of Aug. 9.

This, according to him, is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of the total PVCs collected ahead of the Aug. 15 Osun governorship election.

He recalled that collection of PVCs in Osun was held at the registration area (RA) level from July 22 to July 28.

“Owing to complaints of large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres, the commission approved an extension of RA-level collection to July 31, before collection moved to LGA level, running from Aug. 1 to Aug. 7.

“The commission also wishes to state that replacement of downloadable PVCs has been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres.

“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” he said.

Haruna reassured the people of Osun of INEC’s readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on Aug. 15.