Politics

#NigeriaDecides: First since 2013, Nigeria’s over 2.5 million eligible voters in IDP camps set to vote

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria which will begin in less than twenty hours, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that about three million internally displaced persons will participate in the voting exercise.

The development follows a revision of the framework and regulations for IDPs which enables a larger amount of displaced people to exert their fundamental constitutional rights.

One of the IDPs and first-time voters, Mallam Yusuf Takida 38 commended the development.

“Honestly, I am very happy especially this time around, because ever since we fled from our homes and ended up here, we, the IDPs have not been able to get our voters’ card because most of us ran away and left our voters’ card and have not been able to renew or register for another one since we came here,” says Takida.

“I’m a father with three children. My life did not play along, as I wanted it to. I would love to see my children have a very good life. But they cannot if they don’t have good leadership in the country. They cannot have a good life if they don’t have a good education or decent employment, and other things that can help them and also help other people around them. These are the things I pray to see before I die, or at least in my old age, that my children will enjoy these benefits and have a good life,” explains Takida.

Internally displaced persons are persons who are forced to leave their house but remain within their country’s borders.

INEC in September said it has put measures in place to ensure every eligible Nigerian, including over three million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), participate in the 2023 general elections.

Terrorist activities have taken an upward trend in Nigeria since the deadly Boko Haram sect based in North-Eastern Nigeria, which is also active in Chad, Niger, and northern Cameroon was founded in 2002.

According to Statista, Nigeria has the third highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa. In 2020, it counted 2.7 million internally displaced people. Overall, Africa has the largest number of IDPs in the world.

Related Topics:Election in IDP camps Elections Featured IDP Nigeria nigeriadecides

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 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

4 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.