Connect with us

Politics

Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC warns, elections might not hold as planned. Here’s why

Published

on

Nigeria’s Electoral Commission, INEC has hinted that the general elections schedule for next month could be cancelled or postponed if the current level of insecurity persists in the country.

The body made the warning in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, through one of the heads during a meeting.

Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, cautioned that “If insecurity is not monitored and reduced, it could lead to the cancellation and/or postponement of the elections in enough constituencies to prevent the announcement of the results.”

According to him, the situation could then “cause a constitutional crisis”, hence the need to avoid it at all costs.

For the elections to be a success, the INEC is “doing everything possible to ensure that complete security is provided for election staff, materials and processes,” he added.

The 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria are expected to be a close contest between Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and dark-horse Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Security have turn worse in Nigeria lately. Last Saturday, gunmen kidnapped more than 30 people, some of whom were later released, in an attack on a railway station in the south, according to local authorities. Kidnappings are common in Nigeria, particularly in the northwest and central regions.

There have also been attacks on offices of the electoral body in different states across the Nigerian Federation which adds to the threat against the election.

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.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

S’Africa lengthens troop deployment in Mozambique, Congo DR 

Published

on

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech that South Africa’s military would keep sending troops to Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are both in the middle of wars.

The extension will leave 1,198 members of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in eastern Congo for an unknown amount of time. They are there as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force helping Congo fight rebel groups.

The statement also said that 1,495 members of the SANDF would keep working in Mozambique, where they have been since 2021 helping the government fight dangerous extremism in the north.

After two SANDF troops were killed and three were hurt by a mortar bomb in Congo in February, South Africa’s military operations abroad have been looked at more closely at home this year.

Meanwhile, the major opposition party in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance, said that Ramaphosa sent troops into a war zone without being ready.
Under the supervision of the UN, the SANDF has taken on many dangerous and difficult peacekeeping tasks over the years to help war-torn African countries stay stable and peaceful.

In 2003, South Africa was one of the first countries to send troops to Burundi to help the peace process. During the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) peacekeeping mission in 2000, the SANDF led attempts to stabilize the country’s politics, rebuild and improve infrastructure, and train DRC troops.

Continue Reading

Politics

Digital Rights: Policy enthusiast, Jere, advocates self-regulation as alternative to govt regulations

Published

on

Copperbelt businessman and mining policy advocate, George Jere, has highlighted the importance of self-regulation in the expanding digital media landscape, countering arguments against freedom of speech.

In an exclusive discussion with Zambia Monitor, Jere challenged notions surrounding media freedom and digital rights, emphasizing the indispensable role of effective media instruments in national progress.

“Digital media’s unrestricted nature facilitates publishing, although tracking those behind it poses challenges for government intervention,” Jere remarked, advocating for self-regulation as a preferable alternative to government restrictions.

He stressed the need for a balanced approach between private and public media operations, criticizing the high level of censorship in public media channels.

“While cyber security laws fall short, self-regulation offers a more effective solution for managing digital platforms,” Jere asserted, expressing disappointment in the government’s failure to enact comprehensive media reforms.

Jere cautioned against subjective regulations aimed at suppressing dissenting voices, urging authorities to reconsider laws through inclusive consultations.

“Media freedom should extend to all, including rural communities, chiefs, and church leaders, across traditional, social, and digital platforms,” he emphasized.

Reflecting on public media governance, Jere noted its tendency to align with ruling interests, calling for fairer recruitment processes for media executives to ensure unbiased coverage.

Regarding proposed taxes on online livestream programmes, Jere questioned the necessity of double taxation, suggesting negotiation of percentage-based levies to support domestic resource mobilization without unfairly targeting individuals.

As debates on freedom of speech and media regulation continue, Jere remained steadfast in advocating for inclusive, balanced media practices to foster national development.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Tech3 hours ago

Intel Liftoff Hackathon 2024 calls for applications from African AI startups

Applications for the 2024 cohort of Intel Liftoff Hackathon has opened for African AI startups designed to bring together aspiring...

Culture3 hours ago

African men run away from single mothers— Joselyn Dumas

Veteran Ghanaian actress and media personality, Joselyn Dumas, has lamented the fact that most African men shy away from getting...

Sports7 hours ago

Former Zambian captain Rainford Kalaba discharged from hospital after near-fatal accident

Former Zambian national team captain, Rainford Kalaba, has been discharged from hospital weeks after he was involved in a near-fatal...

Metro8 hours ago

‘Cyber Act fails to protect the vulnerable,’ Student demands media inclusivity for persons with disabilities

Peter Libila, a student at Icof University’s Chipata campus, highlights the lack of awareness among individuals with disabilities and those...

Metro12 hours ago

All my tough policy decisions are in Nigerians’ interest— Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has insisted that all his tough policy decisions and reforms have been taken with the...

VenturesNow13 hours ago

Nigerian oil regulator implements regional fuel standards

Nigeria’s oil authority has clarified that the recent changes to diesel fuel sulphur content standards are part of a regional...

VenturesNow13 hours ago

IMF predicts Kenya’s economy to overtake Angola

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that this year, Kenya will pass Angola to become the fourth biggest economy in...

Politics13 hours ago

S’Africa lengthens troop deployment in Mozambique, Congo DR 

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech that South Africa’s military would keep sending troops to Mozambique and the Democratic...

Metro14 hours ago

Nigeria govt cancels 924 dormant mining licences

Nigeria’s minister of mines said on Wednesday that 924 expired mining licences had been cancelled immediately. The country now wants...

Tech1 day ago

Nigeria’s NGX Group enters into strategic investment partnership with Ethiopian Securities Exchange

Leading Nigerian integrated market infrastructure group in Africa, the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), has announced strategic investment in the Ethiopian...

Trending