Politics

Nigeria’s ruling party, APC National Convention in disarray as thugs besiege venue

Published

1 year ago

March 26, 2022

The much anticipated National Convention of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), held at the Eagles Square in Abuja, the nation’s capital on March 26, was thrown into disarray and choas as political thugs loyal to different politicians, threw caution to the wind and besieged the venue.

They were ably aided by hoodlums of all shapes who took advantage of the slack security and unleashed mayhem on the party delegates and journalists, snatching phones, laptops, tablets, jewellery, handbags, wallets and whatever valuables they could lay their hands on.

Reminiscent of the choas that also characterized the party’s convention in 2018, eyewitnesses say the delegates who were attacked by the thugs, could not gain access into the venue through the main entrance as it was marked ‘out-of-bounds’ for non-VIP delegates, which forced some accredited but non-statutory delegates and journalists, as well as staff of the APC Convention Electoral Committee, to use other alternative entrances which made it possible for the thugs to have a field day.

The confusion, according to a journalist who witnessed the chaotic situation first hand, led to the metal barriers surrounding the alternative gate being brought down as the delegates tried to force their way into the venue.

“The tumultuous situation led to chaos and disorder which opened the door for the thugs and hoodlums, leading to many being robbed of their personal effects.

“It took some reinforcement from security operatives to regain control of the situation or it could have degenerated into something much worse,” the journalist said.

The police and other security operatives, however, worsened the already charged atmosphere when they dispensed canisters of teargas at the crowd in a bid to disperse them.

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Politics

Opposition party wins majority seats in Guinea Bissau’s parliament

Published

15 hours ago

June 9, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

After a thirteen months break in Guinea-Bissau’s parliament, the opposition coalition has won majority seats after the legislative elections held on Sunday.

Over 20 political parties and coalitions, including the former ruling PAIGC party and its rival MADEM G15, presented candidates for various constituencies across the country.

According to official results, the PAI Terra Ranka coalition, led by the former ruling PAIGC party, won 54 of 102 seats in Sunday’s poll, while the ruling Madem G15, won 28 seats.

The development alters the planned constitutional reforms of President Embalo which would have allowed him to consolidate power by ridding the country of its semi-presidential system.

Under the current political system, the majority party or coalition appoints the government but the president has the authority to dismiss it in certain circumstances, a situation that has led to political gridlock and infighting in the past.

The political stability of the country has been consistently threatened by military incursions with successful and failed coup attempts. The latest was in February 2022 when gunmen stormed a government compound where President Embalo was holding a cabinet meeting, in an attempt to stage a coup.

Politics

Algeria, Sierra Leone get non-permanent seat at UN Security Council

Published

3 days ago

June 7, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Algeria and Sierra Leone, have been elected as non-permanent members of the the United Nations’ Security Council for 2024-2025.

The two countries are part of the ten countries elected for two years in the Council outside the five power bloc countries— the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom.

The countries replace Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates and will join Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland who were elected last year.

For Sierra Leone, it’s a return to the council after 53 years. Its Foreign Minister, David Francis said it was “a great day for this small, progressive and confident country…which has successfully transitioned from war to peace.”

Guyana and South Korea were also elected unchallenged while Slovenia handily beat Belarus for the only contested seat.

An official of rights agency, Human Rights Watch, Louis Charbonneau remarked that “the vote in the General Assembly shows why a competition for UN elections is essential” after Slovenia edged Belarus for the seat going to Eastern Europe and obtained 153 votes, against 38 in Belarus.

“UN member states have undoubtedly decided that Belarus’ grave human rights violations at home and attempts to cover up Russian atrocities in Ukraine disqualify it from serving on the Security Council, a crucial body for ensuring human rights. humans,” he added.

Algeria got 184 votes, South Korea 180 votes, Sierra Leone 188 votes and Guyana 191 in a single candidate votes for four seat reserved for Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America/Caribbean.

There has been a long debate about the place of Africa in international relations. At the inception of the United Nations, only four independent African countries represented the continent when 50 representatives of different countries met in San Francisco, California, in 1945 to complete the Charter of the United Nations.