Expectations of the Masses In Future Elections

Nocturnal and clandestine political meetings have started. Arrangements and scheming to get or retain political power have also started. It is a fact that in the next few months, electoral bells and jingles will ring to declare the floor open for electioneering and elections proper. It will be a time when most public discussions and activities will focus more on electoral related issues. It will equally be the time of preparation for another transition or to usher in another or new set of leadership in the government of Nigeria at various levels especially at federal and state levels. The period essentially will make power to change hands from previous leadership to a new leadership for…

As Political Campaigns Gather Momentum

Politicians are warming up for campaigns next year for 2015 elections.  Already they have started tearing each other apart.   Experience has shown that most political office holders serving a first term often spend the last quarter of their tenure campaigning for re-election, whether or not they have delivered democracy dividends to their electorates.  They spend huge government resources campaigning for themselves.   The year 2014, properly fits into this picture.  We are about to enter a period when all sorts of people, good and bad, aspiring for political positions spend mind-boggling sums of money, organizing rallies, printing posters and dolling out cash seeking for support and votes.  This period is full of intra and…

Anambra State 2014 Gubernatorial Election (2)

“The Die is Cast” I wouldn’t like to write on Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P) now until court decides. There are also other political parties in the state (Anambra State) which are getting fully prepared for the Governorship election in Anambra State. They are coming up with their own flag bearers for the crucial election. As am writing now, I am yet to know their candidates. May be in my subsequent write-up, I will be fully informed about the candidates of other political parties not mentioned in this piece and serve you better.   But, my candid advice to all the candidates contesting for the governorship position in Anambra State and their followers, is that they…

Anambra State 2014 Gubernatorial Election (1)

“the Die is Cast” Different political drums have been rolled out in Anambra State and the beatings are getting frenzier and more ferocious. The people of the State (Anambra State) are getting more anxious and enthusiastic to dance to the tunes, for they have almost exhausted their patience to move into the political stage to exhibit and execute their well-known political dance steps.   Every registered political party (serious minded ones) in Nigeria through their political parties in Anambra State are warming up frantically and gearing up tenaciously for the Anambra State Governorship Election which I have termed the mother-of-all-elections, because every political party in Nigeria wants to use Anambra State Governorship Election to test…

President, Governors lose immunity

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his Vice, as well as the Governor of a State and Deputy can now face prosecution in criminal matters while still in office, following the expunging of the Immunity Clause that used to protect them from Nigeria’s statue books. This controversial clause that had been debated for several years was finally laid to rest Wednesday by the House of Representatives.  Two clauses on the immunity of the National and State Assemblies were dropped. The Lower Legislative Chamber also granted autonomy to Local Government Councils and approved the split of office of the Attorney General of the Federation and that of the Minister of Justice.  It places…

INEC blacklists Imo over Electoral violence

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would not conduct elections in Imo State until the violence and unruly conduct by some politicians that led to the inconclusiveness of the Oguta constituency in the State Assembly re-run on June 29, 2013 are addressed by politicians in the state. Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Attahiru Jega announced this at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room organized by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC). Jega, who insisted that eight polling units remained canceled, indicted officials of Imo State Government and some members of the National Assembly for flouting the restriction order on the Election Day. He said, “the commission received reports that the election…

Jonathan condemns irregularities in Oguta rerun election – As PDP, APGA trade Accusations

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja, condemned the irregularities that characterized the rerun election to the Imo State House of Assembly in Oguta on Saturday, June 29, saying that the conduct of certain persons and groups involved in the election negated the spirit of one man, one vote, which his administration was trying to foster in Nigeria. Speaking at an audience with a delegation from the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, President Jonathan urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies to take immediate steps to bring all those who played any role in the violence and irregularities that marred the election to justice. The President said it had become apparent that…