Politics

Presidential ambition renewed as Nigerian politician, Peter Obi, joins Labour Party

Published

3 years ago

May 27, 2022

Nigerian politician, Peter Obi, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday has joined the Labour Party.

Mr. Obi confirmed the move on his Twitter account.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.”

Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) May 27, 2022

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family. I invite all Nigerians to join me in taking back our country. Be assured that I’ll never let you down.” Obi tweeted.

The Labour Party also confirmed Obi’s admission on its Twitter handle, “Dear Peter Obi, welcome to the Labour party, the party of productivity. Together we will Take back Nigeria.”

Peter Obi was running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the last presidential election in 2019. With president Muhammadu Buhari who is from the Northern part of Nigeria due to leave office in 2023, after having spent eight years as Nigeria’s president, it widely believed Nigeria’s next president should be from the South, specifically the South East region that has not produced a president since Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe during Nigeria independence in 1960 and General Aguyi Ironsi also in the 60s as military head of state.

The presidential primary elections for Nigeria’s two major political parties is scheduled to hold this weekend and eyes will be on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city hosting the primaries to see who and who are likely to be the parties’ flag bearers for the Nigerian top job in next year’s election.

The Labour Party presidential primary is meant to hold next Tuesday.

In a related development, Nigeria’s Minority Leader and governorship aspirant in Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party and resigned as the Minority Leader in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Politics

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

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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.