Politics

Nigeria: Another serving governor, Kayode Fayemi, joins race for ruling party presidential ticket. All comers affair?

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2022

Another contender in Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has announced its intention to contest Nigeria’s presidency in the 2023 elections. This time, it is the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi made the announcement to run for the coveted office while responding to questions during his public declaration on Wednesday.

The event was attended by many dignitaries including a former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; former Senate President, Ameh Ebute; former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; and many traditional rulers.

Nigeria is due for another general election in 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been in office since 2015 will be completing his second term of four years.

The governor said that he decided to join the race after consultations with political associates, traditional rulers, and APC critical stakeholders.

“However, after careful consideration of where we are as a nation and the many perspectives which are emerging about the challenges, old and new, which we must gird our loins to tackle and transcend.

“I am convinced that my entry into the race to bear the standard of the APC will offer our members and Nigerians the opportunity to examine competing visions for national rebirth in the best interest of our country. Fayemi remarked.

With President Buhari being from the north of Nigeria, and with the appointment of Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman of the party also from Northern Nigeria, the APC seems to be tilting towards having a candidate from the Southern part of the country in the next Presidential Elections.

About 13 aspirants have so far joined the APC presidential race. Only one of the aspirants is from the North of Nigeria, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. Perhaps confirming the argument for the Southern candidate.

However, Southern Nigeria is also divided politically. Politicians from South-East Nigeria like Senator Rochas Okorocha, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige; Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajuba; and Governor David Umuahi of Ebonyi State all believed that the slot should be reserved for the region.

Other candidates from South-south like Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole. and the latest on the list Godswill Akpabio also hold claims.

There are also interests from the South-west. The ones that have declared are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Nigeria’s ruling party, the APC has received lots of condemnation for pegging the price for the Nomination Form for the presidency at ₦100 million.

Related Topics:2023 elections Featured Nigeria

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

7 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.