Politics

Defence Chiefs from 5 ECOWAS Nations Absent at Abuja Meeting
Africa, Armed Forces, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, News, Niger, Nigeria, Security, Sierra Leone

Defence Chiefs from 5 ECOWAS Nations Absent at Abuja Meeting

A meeting of defence chiefs from ECOWAS nations held today at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, but the gathering is conspicuously missing the presence of some key countries. Defence Chiefs from Mali, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were noticeably absent from the meeting, while representatives from several other nations are in attendance. Present at the meeting are Defence Chiefs from Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, The Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, and Cape Verde. The meeting is being presided over by General Christopher Musa, the Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff. The meeting has been convened in response to the recent military coup in Niger Republic, where the Commander of Niger's Presidential Guards, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, toppled the ...
Military Intervention in Niger, Declaration of War Against Us – Burkina Faso and Mali
Africa, Armed Forces, Burkina Faso, Mali, News, Niger, Nigeria, Security, Violence

Military Intervention in Niger, Declaration of War Against Us – Burkina Faso and Mali

The junta-led governments of Burkina Faso and Mali issued a joint warning on Monday, stating that any military intervention in Niger to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would be regarded as a "declaration of war" against their two countries. This came in response to threats made by West African leaders, backed by Western partners, to use "force" to reinstate the democratically elected Bazoum and impose financial sanctions on the putschists. The governments of Burkina Faso and Mali emphasized the potential disastrous consequences of a military intervention in Niger, warning that such action could destabilize the entire region. They also rejected the application of "illegal, illegitimate, and inhumane sanctions" against the people and authorities of Niger. At an emergency summ...
National Assembly Salaries Can’t Meet Constituents’ Demands – Akpabio
Legislature, News, Nigeria

National Assembly Salaries Can’t Meet Constituents’ Demands – Akpabio

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, expressed concerns about the inadequacy of salaries received by members of the National Assembly, stating that they are not enough to cater to the demands from their constituents. Akpabio made this statement during a debate on a motion sponsored by Abdulraman Kawu Suleiman, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Kano South. The motion focused on the impending strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the need to avert it. Akpabio acknowledged the enormous hardships brought about by the removal of petroleum subsidy, but urged the people to exercise patience with the government as steps are being taken to alleviate their suffering. He emphasized that lawmakers' earnings are meager compared to the volu...
Tinubu’s Ministerial List Finally Presented to the Senate
Legislature, News, Nigeria

Tinubu’s Ministerial List Finally Presented to the Senate

After much anticipation, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, finally presented the ministerial list of former President Bola Tinubu before the Senate on Thursday. Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, arrived at the Senate Chambers and presented the list to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at precisely 01:19 pm. Akpabio informed the senators that the list was dated July 27, 2023, and titled "Request For Confirmation Of Ministerial-Nominees." He further disclosed that additional nominations would be sent to the Senate in due course. Subsequently, Akpabio proceeded to read the ministerial list, which included a total of 28 nominees. Tinubu's nominations have been the subject of public interest, and the first set of names r...
National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Sacks Labour Party Representative
Elections, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Nigeria

National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Sacks Labour Party Representative

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba, Delta State, has invalidated the election of Mr. Ngozi Okolie, the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency at the House of Representatives. Okolie, who was declared the winner of the February 25 House of Representatives election in the federal constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been disqualified and removed from his position. The petition challenging Okolie's victory was filed by the immediate past Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ndidi Elumelu. Elumelu contested the results, arguing that Okolie was not properly sponsored by the Labour Party and that he did not resign from his position as a public office holder, ...
Emefiele: Court Gives DSS 7 Days to Either Charge or Release Him
Judiciary, Justice, Law Enforcement, News, Nigeria

Emefiele: Court Gives DSS 7 Days to Either Charge or Release Him

In a significant development, the Abuja Federal High Court issued a one-week ultimatum to the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Thursday, demanding that they either charge or release the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The order was delivered by Justice Hamza Muazu during a ruling on a fundamental human rights suit filed by Emefiele against the DSS and other parties. Justice Muazu acknowledged the constitutional authority of the DSS to make arrests, detain individuals, and combat internal crime. However, he emphasized that such actions must be carried out in accordance with the law. The arrest of Godwin Emefiele by the DSS took place on June 10, shortly after President Bola Tinubu suspended him from his position as the g...
NLC: Tinubu Has Declared War on the Masses with Anti-Poor Policies
Labour, News, Nigeria

NLC: Tinubu Has Declared War on the Masses with Anti-Poor Policies

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly denounced the recent surge in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, along with other policies that it perceives as detrimental to the impoverished population. In a compelling address during the opening ceremony of a four-day program for NLC state council leaders in Lagos, NLC President Joe Ajaero declared that the Nigerian state had effectively declared war on the working class and the masses. Represented by Deputy President of Congress and President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Prince Adewale Adeyanju, Ajaero emphasized that trade union leaders must not abandon the Nigerian people and workers in the face of such challenges. The program, which was supported by the American Solidarit...
APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu Faces Battle to Retain Position
Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu Faces Battle to Retain Position

There are indications that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is facing a battle to remain the party's chairman following his disapproval of the principal officers of the National Assembly announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday. Multiple sources have revealed that Adamu's disowning of the principal officers named by Akpabio and Abbas is among the factors that may lead to his ouster as chairman. It has been gathered that Adamu's position on the principal officers was seen as a defiance of President Bola Tinubu's wishes, as the National Assembly leadership reportedly had the support of the presidency before making the announcements. Senate President Akpabio ha...
EU Election Observation Mission Notes Lack of Transparency with Data Deleted from the BVAS
Elections, Nigeria

EU Election Observation Mission Notes Lack of Transparency with Data Deleted from the BVAS

The EU Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has released its latest report on Nigeria's 2023 general election, drawing attention to the controversy surrounding the deletion of election data from the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) between the presidential and governorship elections held in February and March 2023, respectively. In its final report titled 'Election Observation Mission Nigeria 2023,' the EU pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to provide clear information regarding the specific data that was erased from the BVAS and what was stored on the back-end server. The report highlighted that the BVAS machines used on February 25 were redeployed in the same polling units on March 18. During this period, the BVAS underwent reconf...
INEC: Accusations Against Electoral Commissioners Met with Skepticism
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...