Category: Elections - Page 3 - African News Today

INEC: Accusations Against Electoral Commissioners Met with Skepticism

5Jul

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Judiciary, Justice, News, Nigeria

INEC: Accusations Against Electoral Commissioners Met with Skepticism

The recent accusations made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) involved in this year's general election have been met with skepticism by Nigerians, who hold a deep distrust of the electoral body. Many believe that INEC itself played a significant role in the irregularities that marred the elections. Consequently, the news of impending legal actions against erring officials fails to excite the public, particularly as the presidential election outcome is still being hotly contested in court, with INEC displaying a lack of transparency regarding the events that transpired. INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu addressed the RECs from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), revealing that the police had conclu...

Breaking: Tinubu Dissolves Boards of Parastatals, FG Agencies etc.

19Jun

By adminNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Breaking: Tinubu Dissolves Boards of Parastatals, FG Agencies etc.

President Bola Tinubu has made a significant decision by approving the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned companies. This move aims to bring about a restructuring and fresh approach in the governance of these entities. The announcement came through a statement released on Monday by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey. He clarified that the directive excludes boards, commissions, and councils listed in the third schedule, part one section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The exclusion means that agencies such as the Nigeria Judicial Council, Code of Conduct Bureau, Council of State,...

Bulkachuwa Denies Influencing Wife’s Judicial Decisions

18Jun

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Bulkachuwa Denies Influencing Wife’s Judicial Decisions

Former Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, who represented Bauchi North during the 9th Assembly, has refuted claims that he had influenced the decisions of his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the former President of the Court of Appeal. He specifically addressed the incident during the valedictory session in the Senate, where he alleged that he used his position to seek favors for his colleagues from his wife but was interrupted by the former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Sunday, Senator Bulkachuwa clarified that his words were misrepresented and that he was not given the opportunity to fully express his thoughts. He explained that he had only just begun his remarks during the valedictory session when he was cut off. He had intended to thank his wi...

16Jun

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Why I Lost the Senate Presidency – Yari

In a surprising turn of events, former Zamfara State governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has come forward to accuse fellow senators of betraying him in the race for the Senate Presidency seat. The All Progressives Congress (APC), Yari's political party, had initially chosen Godswill Akpabio from Akwa Ibom as their preferred candidate for the prestigious position. During the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday, Godswill Akpabio emerged victorious and was sworn in as the Senate President. Akpabio secured an impressive 63 votes, while Yari, unfortunately, fell short with only 46 votes. Expressing his disappointment, Yari revealed that he had high hopes of securing at least 61 out of the total 109 votes, which would have secured his victory as the Senate President. The f...

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

28May

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Justice, News, Nigeria

An Open Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Transparency and Accountability In Court Proceedings – Adebowale Aluko

An open letter from a frontline legal practitioner to the CJN My Lord, I write, as a concerned member of the Nigerian bar, regarding a subject which has generated controversy among members of the bar and indeed the larger public in the past week. Confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low. On 22 May 2023, at the opening ceremony of the annual conference of the National Association of Women Judges, Your Lordship urged judges sitting in election petition matters across the country to do substantive justice and eschew technicalities, in order to restore the confidence of the public in the judiciary. It is against this backdrop that I write in relation to the directive of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), prohibiting mobile phones and other electronic d...

Opinion: Nigeria’s Election Highlights Anglo-American Missteps – M. Page

28May

By adminNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria, United States of America

Opinion: Nigeria’s Election Highlights Anglo-American Missteps – M. Page

Nigeria’s just concluded presidential elections have been focusing minds in London and Washington. Like tens of millions of Nigerian voters, Anglo-American officials realized what was at stake. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and is on track to be the third most populous country in the world by 2045. The UK and the US have enduring strategic interests in Nigeria, which are threatened by Nigeria’s kleptocratic ruling class’s tolerance of – and complicity in – democratic backsliding, grand corruption and gross human rights violations. The new administration faces a daunting array of challenges, from underdevelopment to insecurity, fiscal pressures and poor governance, which went unaddressed under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari. But over the last several years, the UK and US h...

Inauguration: FG Restricts Movements Around Eagle Square

26May

By adminNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria

Inauguration: FG Restricts Movements Around Eagle Square

The Federal Government has directed the restriction of movements around the Eagle Square, the venue of the inauguration parade, from 2 p.m. on Friday till Tuesday. This move is in preparation for the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, on May 29. A circular issued by Ngozi Onwudiwe, a permanent secretary at the Head of the Civil Service, stated that the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives ahead of the ceremony. The government has been conducting military drills in the past few weeks in preparation for the inauguration ceremony. The Inauguration Parade and Swearing-in of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the Programme, will t...

Femi Gbajabiamila Clashes with Deputy over Control of the House

25May

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Femi Gbajabiamila Clashes with Deputy over Control of the House

A crisis appears to be brewing in Nigeria's House of Representatives over who presides over the 10th assembly. Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Ahmed Wase, clashed during the plenary session on Wednesday, leading to speculations that the race for the key position is getting messier by the day. The Guardian reported that Wase is eyeing the seat of the Speaker and is a member of the G-7, a group of aspirants who are not comfortable with the zoning arrangement of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Gbajabiamila, on the other hand, had recommended Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, leading to their endorsement by the APC. The trouble started when Gbajabiamila asked Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulat...

DSS Raises Alarm Over Plans to Disrupt Handover Ceremonies in Nigeria

25May

By adminNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria, Security

DSS Raises Alarm Over Plans to Disrupt Handover Ceremonies in Nigeria

The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised an alarm over plans by some subversive elements to disrupt the handover ceremonies in some parts of the country. The DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The DSS stated that these elements plan to undermine the efforts of the security agencies as well as cause panic among the citizens. The DSS has urged citizens to adhere to the laid down protocols for the events across the country to ensure a peaceful and successful ceremony. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council had announced activities for the Presidential inauguration on May 29, 2023, in Abuja. On the same date, new Governors will also be inaugurated in m...

A Word to the Dogs of Opposition – Femi Fani-Kayode

25Mar

By adminNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria

A Word to the Dogs of Opposition – Femi Fani-Kayode

Trust me when I tell you that if there is any foul play in this matter or any conspiracy to thwart the people's will we will make this nation ungovernable. - Femi Fani-Kayode As a consequence of the events of the last few days I am constrained to say that, like a rabid and mad dog that is foaming at the mouth, the Nigerian opposition, represented by the followers of Atiku Abubakar (Atikulators) and the followers of Peter Obi (Obidients), have lost control of their senses. They need to get a grip before it is too late. They are attempting to start something that they cannot finish and that they cannot possibly fathom the end of. They are beating the drums of war and are indulging in a level of irresponsible and downright dangerous behaviour that has NEVER been witnessed before i...