Tagged: Africa

Farida Adamu

Zambia: Constitutional Amendment Fails

A Constitution Amendment Bill, also known as Bill no.10, has failed to get the support of two-thirds of Members of the Parliament of Zambia. The bill which will allow the current head of state, Edgar Lungu, to change the electoral layout and take control of central bank monetary policy, fell short by 6 votes. Opposition lawmakers led by the largest party, the United Party […]
Conrad Omodiagbe

Uganda: Opposition Candidates Arrested

As the people of Uganda await a set election date, pop star-turned-politician, Bobi Wine, who has garnered support to become one of the country’s leading contenders, has claimed that he was arrested, beaten, and tortured by the police hours after he registered his candidacy to challenge President Yoweri Museveni.  Wine, whose real name is Robert […]
Farida Adamu

Ivory Coast: Incumbent Coasts To Victory

The electoral commission of Ivory Coast has announced President Alassane Ouattara of the Rally of the Republicans as the winner of the just-concluded and highly controversial October 31 elections. President Ouattara reportedly scored 94.27 per cent of the vote, which had a 54 per cent voter turnout. Opposition candidates Pascal Affi N’Guessan and Kouadio Konan Berti both scored 2% of the vote […]
Farida Adamu

Understanding the Algerian Political Tension

Political tension and unrest have been prominent in the Algerian political landscape over the past few months. Unending protests, which started in February 2019, led to the resignation of long-term President Abdoulazez Bouteflika in April 2019. However, this is not the first time civil agitations have led to political or constitutional changes.  In 1988 riots in Algeria […]
Farida Adamu

Tanzania Election: What Happened?

The incumbent president of Tanzania, John Magufuli of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party), has been declared the winner of the presidential elections which held on the 28th of October 2020 after securing more than 84% of the votes. His main opponent, Tundu Lissu, earned just 13% of the vote, according to the official count. Voter turnout was pegged at 50.7% with 15 million out of the 29 million registered […]
Conrad Omodiagbe

Nigeria Cancels By-Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has announced the postponement of six Senatorial and nine House of Assembly by-elections scheduled to hold in eleven states as a result of unrest triggered by #EndSars protests across the country.  In a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, INEC said […]
Conrad Omodiagbe

Social Media Restriction Ahead Of Tanzanian Polls

As Tanzanians prepare for a hotly contested election that will see incumbent President John Magufuli go up against 14 other presidential hopefuls, the East African state faces a tough democratic journey to the polls fraught with alleged internet shutdowns and killings of opposition.  More than 29 million people have registered to cast their ballots as […]