Nigeria: Legalising Child Marriage Through Elections
Conrad Omodiagbe
In what has been described as an attempt to legalise child marriage in Nigeria, the country’s legislative has announced a proposed election act amendment that would recognise married underage girls as eligible voters. Nigeria’s constitution currently pegs the eligible age for voting at 18. The announcement was made by National Assembly Joint Committee on the […]
Nigeria Makes Its First Election Announcement
Conrad Omodiagbe
In its first major election announcement of the year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has scheduled the Anambra State Governorship poll for November 6, as it works to address challenges leading up to the polls. The official election umpire of Nigeria made this announcement through the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, […]
CAR Court Reinforces Touadera’s Election Win
Conrad Omodiagbe
The President of the Central African Republic (CAR) Faustin-Archange Touadera is set to start a new term after the country’s Constitutional Court confirmed his victory at last month’s polls, despite pushback from opposition parties. While preliminary results announced by the country’s elections umpire on January 4, 2021, placed Touadera at the top of the disputed elections with […]
What Happened In Uganda?
Conrad Omodiagbe
Following months of allegations surrounding opposition suppression, the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has been re-elected for a sixth term in a vote the opposition has described as ‘rigged.’ Museveni, who has been in power for more than three decades went toe-to-toe with the people’s favourite and main opposition rival, a singer turned politician, Bobi […]
Palestine To Hold First General Election In 15 Years
Conrad Omodiagbe
Fifteen years after its last elections, Palestine is set to head to the polls again in 2021. President Mahmoud Abbas announced new election dates on Friday, setting legislative polls for May 22 and a presidential poll scheduled for July 31. Coming in days before the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden, whom Palestine sees as […]
Niger Prepares For Election Run-off
Conrad Omodiagbe
A former minister and a former president are set to go head-to-head in a presidential run-off election as Niger attempts its first peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from France 60 years ago. According to Niger’s Electoral Commission, the candidate representing its ruling party, Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), Mohamed Bazoum, will face […]
Nigeria Learns From The US Presidential Election
Conrad Omodiagbe
Weeks after the world witnessed the hotly contested US Presidential elections, Nigeria seems to be gearing up for the 2023 general elections with notes from its American counterparts. The 2020 US Presidential elections will go down in history as one of the most controversial moments in political history. While polling numbers and figures from the […]
Democracy Watch: Uganda Bans Social Media
Conrad Omodiagbe
A couple of days before what is expected to be a tense Election Day, Uganda has announced its decision to shut down social media and messaging apps in the country. This, among several other crackdowns, goes in line with a massive wave of intimidation and repression against the opposition party and its supporters ahead of […]
Issues to Consider Ahead of the Uganda Vote
Farida Adamu
On the 14 of January 2021, Uganda will vote to elect a new president. The political climate in the country has been tense as the incumbent Yoweri Museveni and the popular opposition, Bobi Wine, stage campaigns across most of Uganda. The campaigns have been one of the bloodiest in Uganda’s history with reports of police […]
Four African Votes To Watch In 2021
Farida Adamu
The year 2020 was a consequential year in African elections. The year started with elections in Togo where Faure Gnassingbé won a fourth term and closed off with elections in Niger and the Central African Republic where a second round is due on February 8. In 2021, the continent anticipates votes in Uganda and Ethiopia, local elections in […]
The Electoral Amendment: A Decade in Deliberations.
Farida Adamu
The Electoral Act (Amendment Bill), a proposal aimed at making changes to existing electoral laws in Nigeria has been a rallying cause for civil society in Nigeria for a decade. The Electoral Act was first passed in 2010 to replace the 2006 Electoral Act is now set to be repealed. Find out what we know: […]
Issues to Consider As Niger Votes
Farida Adamu
Elections to the presidency and parliament of the Republic of Niger are scheduled to hold on the 27th December 2020. This is the first time the country will see a democratic transition of power since its independence in 1960. The incumbent, President Mahamadou Issoufou, is not standing for reelection as he has already served two terms, […]
Kosovo: Court Ruling Triggers Fresh Elections
Farida Adamu
The constitutional court of Kosovo has declared the government an illegitimate one, triggering fresh elections in the Balkan country. The Court ruled on December 21 that the election of the government of Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti was illegal because one member of parliament (Etem Arifi) who voted for the government had previously been convicted of a crime. According to the constitution in Kosovo, […]
Israel Will Hold Its Fourth Election In Two Years
Farida Adamu
The parliament in Israel has been dissolved following a budget crisis that has now triggered fresh elections in the Middle-Eastern country. Why Are We Back Here? Recall that earlier in the year, Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz formed a unity government after Netanyahu failed to receive a majority of the votes in the last elections. The government was formed based on an agreement […]
CAR Accuses Ex-President Of Plotting Coup
Conrad Omodiagbe
The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) has accused former President Francois Bozize of an attempted coup ahead of the country’s upcoming December 27 presidential and legislative elections. The allegations come after three main rebel groups announced a joint coalition with a threat to march through the capital of Bangui. Sharing its concerns with […]
Nepal Dissolves Parliament, Sets Early Election Date
Conrad Omodiagbe
The President of Nepal has dissolved Parliament on a recommendation from the Prime Minister, calling for fresh elections to be held over a year early as the country continues to struggle with rising coronavirus numbers. According to a statement from President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s office, parliamentary elections will be held on April 30 and May […]
This State In Nigeria Just Made Election History
Conrad Omodiagbe
As states across Nigeria continue to hold by-elections earlier postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Kogi state seems to have made history with its recent results as the opposition cries foul. Announcing the results from the recently concluded polls, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mamman Nda Eri, disclosed that […]
Nigeria Considers Adding New Polling Units
Conrad Omodiagbe
For the first time since the creation of new polling units in 1996, Nigeria is looking to create more units to better serve its voting community ahead of its 2023 general elections. As Nigerians prepare for the next polls scheduled to hold in early 2023, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor […]
Nigeria Makes Headway In Diaspora Voting Plan
Conrad Omodiagbe
Fulfilling one of the promises made at the start of its tenure, the government in Nigeria has kick-started a law allowing Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in elections, regardless of their present country of residence. The new bill, which passed its second reading at the Nigerian House of Representatives, seeks to amend Section 77(2) […]