A former presidential candidate and one-time critic of Nigeria’s major parties, Shitu Mohammed Kabir, has defended his decision to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that the country’s refusal to build ideological political parties and adopt proportional representation has entrenched desperation, opportunism and a winner-takes-all political culture. Kabir, a former leader of the Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA) and a past chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), made the remarks during an interview on Wednesday, where he was challenged over what many Nigerians see as a shift…
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INEC register two new political parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has announced the registration of two new political parties, bringing the number of parties in the country to 21. National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joaish Amupitan, who announced this at the first quarterly meeting with political party leaders listed the new parties as Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and National Democratic Congress (NDC). Prof. Amupitan said while only the Democratic Leadership Alliance met all the conditions for the registration of political parties, the National Democratic Congress is being registered in obedience to the judgement of…
Read MoreSenate quashes Bill seeking to allow Parties replace NASS members
The Senate has quashed a Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 seeking to allow political parties nominate and replace validly elected candidates in the event of resignation, death or vacancy (of seats) of serving members in National Assembly (NASS) and State Assemblies and for connected matters. The sponsor of the Bill, Senator Karimi Sunday, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, explained that the Bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to allow the political party that won an election nominate and replace candidates into National Assembly…
Read More13 Parties threaten to boycott 2023 elections over Naira redesign
Thirteen of the 18 political parties have threatened to withdraw from the February 25 and March 11 general elections due to the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)s naira redesign policy. National Chairman of the Action Alliance, Kenneth Udeze, stated this at a briefing by a Coalition of Chairmen of Political Parties yesterday, in Abuja. Udeze stated that if the apex banks naira redesign policy is suspended or cancelled, the 13 parties will withdraw from the 2023 electoral process. He added that they will boycott the upcoming elections if the new deadline…
Read More2023: INEC lists guidelines for conduct of political rallies
…Demands 10 days notice; warns parties, donors on donations exceeding ?50m Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has published guidelines for the conduct of political rallies and campaigns as well as election expenses of parties, candidates and aspirants. According to the guidelines for rallies and campaigns, in an issued statement released yesterday by the Commission, political parties must issue in writing a notice to the Commissioner of Police of the State or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) indicating the exact venue and time of…
Read More2023: “Stop using abusive language”, ECOWAS tell political parties
The leader of the ECOWAS delegation and former President of the Ghana Electoral Commission, Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, said this during a courtesy visit to the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Sani in Abuja. According to him, the overall objective of the visit was to undertake an assessment of the status of preparations for the conduct of the polls in implementing the objectives of the Mission. Afari-Gyan, however, called on political parties in Nigeria to embrace dialogue, saying that, the 2023 elections should not be seen as a battle.…
Read MoreCampaign: INEC cautions political parties on abusive, hate speech
Ahead of the formal flag-off of the campaigns of the 18 registered political parties this Wednesday, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has advised the political parties to critically study and pay attention to the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Police Act and the Public Order Act for the proper and peaceful conduct of political campaigns, rallies and processions. He reminded the parties that their campaigns and slogans must not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure religious,…
Read More2023: Tinubu, Atiku, others have one week to pick running mate or risk invalidation – INEC
As the submission of presidential candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ends next Friday, the candidates of parties vying for the 2023 presidency have been directed to pick their running mates for their nominations to be valid. The INEC Chairman further said that only candidates who emerged from democratic primaries as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022 should be submitted to the Commission. This is as the submission of candidates for the national election ends next week Friday. INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this at a…
Read More2023: Seven political parties join forces to battle APC, PDP
Seven political parties have joined forces to fight the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in the upcoming 2023 general elections. After fifteen months of deliberations and agreements, the allied political parties and the National Consultative Front, comprising six parties, decided to join forces with the Labour Party, (LP), to present a joint presidential candidate for the 2023 polls. Speaking on the matter, a spokesperson for the National Consultative Front (NCFront), Ms. Bello Bilikis, disclosed that the formal endorsement of the Labour Party by…
Read MoreSERAP writes INEC, seeks details of financial transactions of political parties
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to widely publish the reports on the accounts and balance sheet of every political party submitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the National Assembly since 2015. SERAP urged him to urgently examine the books and records of financial transactions of political parties, and to make public the outcome of any such examination. SERAP also urged him to provide details of the guidelines, and steps that INEC…
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