Politics

Nigeria: Electoral body, INEC, no longer trusts Central Bank with sensitive materials. Here’s why

Published

3 years ago

June 4, 2022

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that sensitive electoral materials will no longer be routed through the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made the announcement on Saturday while responding to questions at an ongoing election dialogue, ‘The Electorate’, organized by Enough is Enough on Saturday in Abuja.

Professor Yakibu said that the decision by INEC is to guarantee that electoral materials that are to be used for the elections are not compromised.

He further revealed that beginning with the Ekiti State Governorship election scheduled for later this year, INEC will not keep its sensitive materials with the CBN.

The decision comes in the wake of outcry by some stakeholders and a good number of Nigerians due to his alleged interest in contesting for the office of the president in the 2023 general election under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) platform.

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele had filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, alleging attempt to disqualify him from the 2023 presidential election.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, however refused to shield Emiefele, from being disqualified to contest for the presidential ticket of any political party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

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.

Twenty-three aspirants were picked for the APC presidential race, the party announced yesterday that 10 of the aspirants were disqualified. Meanwhile, the party has received lots of condemnation for pegging the price for the Nomination Form for the presidency at ₦100 million.

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.