Politics

Nigeria’s ruling party splits but will that cost Buhari the Presidency?

Nigeria’s political landscape was shaken Wednesday when a splinter group emerged from the cold to claim that the country’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), no longer served its interest, alleging a reign of impunity by the party leadership

Published

5 years ago

July 5, 2018

Africa News Watch

The splinter group is peopled mostly by the aggrieved members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc of the party and have since branded themselves as Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC).

Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, announced the formation of the new group at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Leader of the nPDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje was present at the press conference where the announcement was made.

Accusing the party leadership of impunity, Galadima said that the local and state congresses as well as the national convention of the APC were a sham and largely undemocratic.

“The nPDP, a group that has made a major contribution to the emergence of the APC administration, has made strenuous efforts to invite attention to inequities, injustice and poor management in our party without any success.

“The nPDP had shown good faith and commitment to the party, but it has been rewarded with indifference and even contempt. It is obvious that the leadership of the APC has decided to shut out members of the APC, as well as other members who have raised genuine grievances and a desire to improve the responsiveness of the APC to the desire of members for a party founded on democratic principles.

“Under the circumstances, patriotic elements and most of the original founders of the APC have found themselves in the opposing side of this charade.

“Most of the delegates who bought and paid for forms for the congresses and convention and were elected as delegates have come together to take control and give legitimacy to APC to be now known as and called Reformed – APC (R – APC),” Galadima said.

Influential members of the ruling APC who have, directly or indirectly, been associated with R-APC include Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former governors of Kano and Adamawa states, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Murtala Nyako.

In his initial reaction, the newly elected National Chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, pleaded for patience in dealing with the insurrection in the party.

Opposition has continued to mount against the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari who has been severally accused of nepotism, and mal-administration. Prominent voices against his reign include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Babangida.

How much damage the fresh upheaval will wreak on Buhari’s 2019 aspirations remains a subject of permutations. In spite of seeming waning influence, largely a result of insecurity issues, Buhari continues to maintain a stronghold in the northern half of the country, a political asset that could be deployed to full advantage in 2019.

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Politics

South Africa: Opposition, DA want findings on alleged arms supply to Russia public

Published

2 days ago

June 5, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance has vowed to challenge the decision by the presidency to keep from the public, findings from recent arm supply allegations.

The follows allegations by United States Ambassador, Reuben Brigety that South Africa provided ammunition to Russia by ship. Brigety said the US was sure that contrary to its public claim of being non-aligned in the Russia/Ukraine crisis, South Africa supplied arms to Vladimir Putin’s army in December.

Following the allegation, President Ramaphosa launched an investigation to be conducted by an independent body which will be led by retired Deputy Justice Phineas Mojapelo, advocate Leah Gcabashe, and former justice minister Enver Surty. Meanwhile, his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said the government would withhold the panel’s findings.

Magwenya said the terms of reference for the inquiry would not be gazetted or published.

“The investigation covers issues of national security and classified information, which is protected from disclosure,” he said.

“This inquiry has been instituted in a similar manner to the inquiry that investigated the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and the value of its report remains unchallenged.

“The panel will be supported in gathering the information that is necessary to fulfil its mandate by letters from the president instructing all relevant government entities as identified by the panel to cooperate fully with the panel or face disciplinary sanction,” he said.

“The work of the panel will not be public, nor will its report be made public. The president will speak to any actions that may result with respect to national security. This is provided for within our secrecy laws as per the nature of this matter,” he added.

In a statement, the DA said it would not ” leave this secrecy unchallenged. We have already submitted an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act to obtain a copy of the panel’s terms of reference. And we are obtaining legal advice to challenge Ramaphosa’s plan to hide the report once it is complete.”

The party leader, John Steenhuisen argued that keeping the report private “undermines the ability of prosecutors and the public to hold guilty parties accountable for any such violations of the law”.

“Hiding this report from public view will rob the people of South Africa – and of the world – of the opportunity to see the full facts of this matter.

“Refusing to disclose the complete picture of how the ANC-led government allegedly smuggled weapons to arm Russia’s war in Ukraine and various parts of Africa will also undermine the very purpose of the investigation.”

Politics

Zimbabwe’s electoral commission, ZEC promises to publicise voters’ register

Published

3 days ago

June 4, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

The electoral commission in Zimbabwe said it would soon publish the voters’ register for the forthcoming general elections.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) also assured the public of a fair election and promised to rectify anomalies that were observed during the voters’ inspection exercise.

The head of ZEC, Utloile Silaigwana made the position known when he announced the end of the mop-up voter registration exercise on Friday.

Silaigwana further revealed that the Nomination court would sit on 21 June and thereafter the voters’ roll would be accessible to candidates.

There are contentions about the neutrality of the electoral commission. In March, a member of the opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Allan Markham filed a court application challenging ZEC for access to the electronic voters’ roll but had his request rejected because “it was too risky” and in the interest of data protection.

Meanwhile, the ruling party, Zanu PF sent text messages to registered voters during the period urging them to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This move further fuelled the allegation that Zanu PF had access to the voters’ roll which is why it was able to send the messages.

President Mnangagwa is running for re-election to a second term after coming to power following a military coup that dislodged Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president in 2017.

The country is struggling with deep poverty, recurring power outages, and crippling unemployment, all of which have fuelled widespread resentment.

The President of Zimbabwe is elected using a two-round system. The Zimbabwean legislature is made up of 270 members of the National Assembly, 210 members elected in single-member constituencies, and 60 women elected by proportional representation in ten six-seat constituencies based on the country’s provinces.