Politics

KEMI BADENOCH AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE The police are a reflection of the Nigerian society, argues Joshua J. Omojuwa A casual observer was going to get away with thinking Kemi Badenoch had become the No. 1 hate figure for Nigerians on social media. Before the play that turned the tide, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party was never going …

INVESTIGATION SHOWS SEVEN REASONS BVAS MAY NEVER WORK IN NIGERIA The growing concern in some quarters over the inability of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free, fair and credible elections again gained gravitas last week in the wake of Ghana’s successful presidential elections. Without prejudice to the introduction of technology (card reader and co) by the Professor …

KEMI BADENOCH WAS RIGHT: NIGERIAN POLICE STOLE MY PHONE IN 2019, BY ELIAS OZIKPU British politician Kemi Badenoch recently became a subject of fierce attacks by officials of the Nigerian government for continuing her criticism of Nigeria’s crumbled and utterly corrupt system.Part of what riled officials of the Nigerian government was her disclosure during her interview with The Free Press, …

EDO ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS LG CHAIRMEN OVER GOVERNOR’S PETITION The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended all the 18 elected local government council chairmen in the state for alleged insubordination and gross misconduct. The House directed leaders of the legislature in the 18 local governments to oversee the running of the councils for the next two months. The House suspended …

BENIN REPUBLIC ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN NIGERIA TO UNDERSTUDY INEC Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has promised to share the Commission’s experience and make available relevant documents to help the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie, CENA of Benin Republic conduct their elections in 2026. Yakubu was addressing a visiting delegation from the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonomie, CENA of Benin …

GALE OF DEFECTIONS: LABOUR PARTY SUFFERS HUGE SET BACK AHEAD 2027 Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the once vibral Labour Party, LP, appears to be losing steam and membership strength across the country. When the members-elect of the National Assembly were sworn in on 13 June, 2023, the LP had the third-largest caucus in the National Assembly, with 34 …

X-RAYING PETER MBAH’S TOWN HALL MEETING, BY DONS EZE Town hall meeting is a feedback mechanism through which political leaders engage themselves with their constituents on critical issues of governance. It is a political accountably forum by which political leaders periodically render account of their stewardship to their constituents,, while the people will in turn seek clarifications on various issues …

NIGERIA CLEARS N85BN $54M ECOWAS LEVY AFTER 19 YEARS Nigeria has made its first full payment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) levy in 19 years, contributing N85.54 billion and $54 million for 2023 and part of 2024. Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, made the announcement during the 66th ordinary summit of ECOWAS in Abuja …

2027 PRESIDENCY: WE’RE NOT WOOING JONATHAN, SAYS PDP The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports that it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race on its platform. Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, denied the reports in an interview with BBC Hausa, saying the party did not issue its presidential ticket to …

NORTHERN POLITICIAN LISTS TINUBU’S ‘SINS’ AGAINST THE NORTH AHEAD OF 2027 RACE A prominent northern politician has spoken out against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing concerns over lopsided appointments and declining public trust. The politician alleged that Tinubu’s appointments disproportionately favour certain regions, leaving many Nigerians feeling excluded. Tinubu, a former two-time governor of Lagos State, is expected to seek …