Politics

Nigeria: President Tinubu calls for unity as he wins at presidential election court

Published

1 year ago

September 6, 2023

The Presidential Election Tribunal in Nigeria upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu Nigeria of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) after ruling on petitions filed by three opposition parties—Allied Peoples Movement, (APM), the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—on Wednesday.

The five-man panel of the Tribunal led by Justice Haruna Tsammani held that the issues the APM raised in its petition contained pre-election matters that could not be determined by the tribunal.

The tribunal maintained that since the APM petition focused on the qualification or otherwise of President Tinubu to contest the presidential election, the party ought to have gone to court within 14 days after Tinubu was nominated by the APC.

The cause of action bordered on a pre-election topic, the court held, thus the APM lacked locus standi to contest Tinubu’s candidature.

On PDP and Atiku Abubakar’s petition, the tribunal rejected the prayer seeking the nullification of the victory of President Tinubu as it rejected a number of exhibits, including witness statements tendered by the camp of the former Vice President on the grounds that he failed to substantiate his claims of anomalies and malpractices in the presidential election.

The court ruled that because he failed to identify the precise sites where the alleged over-voting took place, such filings run afoul of the law. The claim was thus dismissed.

Some of the approaches for the introduction of facts and allegations by the PDP were also tagged as unlawful and unfair to the respondents.

For LP and Obi’s petition, the court ruled that the party did not establish an allegation of corrupt practices in the conduct of the election by way of credible evidence.

It was decided that even though the petitioners claimed that the election was tainted by anomalies, they were unable to specify the locations of the alleged violations.

It also ruled that Obi’s claim that President Tinubu and the APC were given false election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was unfounded.

Meanwhile, in a statement released by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, President Tinubu welcomed the tribunal’s verdict and expressed readiness to serve all Nigerians, regardless of their political views, religious beliefs, or tribal affiliations.

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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.