Forty-Five Days That Changed Elections In Africa?

 By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

An unlikely coincidence of ballots in a forty-five day period from the middle of September to the end of October 2025 has cast a new light on the state of democratic governance in Africa and now threatens to unscramble the ritual hollowness that has become the fate of elections on the continent under the indifferent watch of the African Union and other regional institutions in Africa. How the continent’s leaders and institutions handle the aftermath could have serious implications for the stability of the continent.

*Clockwise: Africa's old, sit-tight rulers: Biya (Cameroon),Mbasago (Equitorial Guinea), Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire) Museveni (Uganda) (Photo credit: Liberian Observer) 

On 16 September, Malawi wnt to the polls to elect their president. The last time the country did that in 2019, it produced results that were so transparently rigged that five judges of the Constitutional Court of Malawi wearing bullet-proof vests were needed to set aside the result declared by the electoral commission. That was only the second time in Africa’s history that a court would nullify the declared outcome in a presidential election.

Peter Obi And The Ethics Of Refusal

 By Valentine Obienyem

Elections, in a sane democracy, ought to be moments of sober reflection – times when citizens pause to weigh their choices, guided by conscience and conviction. Yet, in our political culture, every election seems to leave behind recrimination rather than reflection. The just-concluded Anambra election is no exception.

*Peter Obi 

Now that the dust has settled, one would expect thoughtful discussions on how the state might move forward – how the winner could be held accountable, how institutions could be strengthened, and how public welfare could be advanced. Unfortunately, what we see instead is the familiar pettiness of misplaced blame. Some voices, rather than addressing the moral and institutional lapses that plagued the process, have chosen to chase shadows and personalities.

Real Causes Of Nigeria’s Low Voter Turn-Out

 By Tonnie Iredia

In many societies across the globe, there is a high degree of consensus that democracy is the best example of a government of the people especially because persons in government are supposedly elected by the people to represent them. But how are we sure that those in government were the ones the people actually elected?

The only way to determine that is to critically examine the processes and procedures of regular general elections in a given society. But then, even in a free and fair contest, it is essentially simplistic to regard those who constitute government in countries such as Nigeria as bonafide representatives of the people considering the trend of an insignificant minority of the population who serve as electors. During the last general elections in Nigeria in 2023, about 93 million citizens were registered to vote, but only 25 million showed up to cast their ballots.

Anioma Is Midwest!

 By Nkem Onyekpe

There is an ongoing frenzy about state creation. It would seem that the 10th National Assembly is in a hurry to break the jinx on the inability of civilian-led government to create state, an exercise that the military had performed with fiat. That reality and the fact of prolonged military rule had stunted constitutionalism in the country. Nevertheless, in the present hive of activities on state creation, Anioma state has featured among states that may merit the gavel.

*The Asabga of Asaba, Prof Epiphany Azinge and Sen. Ned Nwoko

Therefore, I begin with the affirmation that Anioma land is west Niger Igboland. Therefore, Anioma people are Igbo or predominantly Igbo. In the last few years, the long-standing agitation for the creation of Anioma state has been resuscitated with increasing vigour after a period of suspended animation. The credit for the resuscitation goes largely to an Anioma son and politician, Senator Ned Nwoko.

Sale Of Alcohol In Sachets: Growing An Alcoholic Population

 By Adekunle Adekoya

Several months ago, the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, announced a bid to ban sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets. The bid did not fly at the time, mainly as a result of pushbacks from vested interests, including manufacturers and distributors of the products.

Product packaging in sachets gained traction in Nigeria in the mid-90s when, first,  the “pure water” industry emerged. Later, in a bid to secure market share, a popular milk brand introduced into the market its product in sachets, and it worked for the company like magic. It has since become a juggernaut in the dairy industry, making billions annually. Its success encouraged others and soon, everywhere you turned, you saw all kinds of products packaged for sale in sachets, including, yes, tomato puree.

Tinubu’s Dilemma: Insecurity And Political Distractions

 By Tonnie Iredia

The threat by US President Donald Trump of attacking Nigeria if its government allows a continuation of what he called the persecution of Christians has remained the matter of the moment since it was made last week. 

*Tinubu
Almost every segment of the Nigerian population has had its say on the subject and many more are still reacting through all forms of communication channels.

Nigeria: What It Really Means To Act In The National Interest

 By Olu Fasan

There’s hardly any Nigerian who will disagree with the idea of acting in the national interest. Indeed, one would have to be an unrepentant renegade to say that he or she won’t act in the national interest. Yet, truth be told, very few people actually act in the national interest in Nigeria. Why?

*Tinubu

Well, first, there are those who have their own vested interests that run contrary to the national interest. Second, even though the concept of the national interest should be an objective reality, it often founders on the bedrock of subjectivism. 

Trump’s Sabre-Rattling As Wake-Up Call, Shot-In-The-Arm

 By Adekunle Adekoya

It is no longer news that President Donald Trump of the United States has designated our dear country, Nigeria, as a CPC — Country of Particular Concern.

*Trump
It is also no longer news that the US president further threatened military action against our country should the political leadership fail to curtail what he said was the killing of Christians in Nigeria. By now, we also all know that Trump has asked for a “plan” of military action to save Christians in Nigeria.

Bola Tinubu’s Diminished Presidency

 By Ikechukwu Amaechi

Many are outraged that President Donald Trump called Nigeria a “disgraced country.” I am too. But my anger is not against Trump. I am angry with President Bola Tinubu who brought this insult on us. The only reason why Trump would disparage this country of over 200 million people is because Tinubu has damaged our collective reputation in the eyes of the international community.

*Tinubu

An African adage says, “He who fetches ant-infested firewood invites lizards in his house.” So, I am not cross with Trump’s showboating. Yes, as a Nigerian, my national pride is deeply hurt when the president of another country ridicules mine.

Nigeria Doesn’t Need A Military Coup; It Needs Enlightened, Active Citizens

 By Olu Fasan

However much the Presidency tried to explain away President Bola Tinubu’s last-minute cancellation of this year’s Independence Day parade, it was clear that something was amiss.

For such a milestone as Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, it was beyond belief that the president would abruptly ditch the parade on the strange excuse that the Armed Forces should not be sidetracked from fighting terrorism, as if the entire military would be on the parade ground. An intelligent guess would suggest that President Tinubu was probably warned against appearing in public because of an attempted coup d’etat. Put simply, he was apparently alerted to danger ahead and shielded from it. 

Throwback To When Nigeria Lost Children At Lekki Tollgate

 By Ebuka Ukoh

October 20, 2020, was an unforgettable Tuesday. Then, I sat at home, watching DJ Switch’s Instagram livestream, my phone trembling in my hands as her voice broke through the darkness.

The sound of gunfire echoed over the national anthem. Flags fluttered in blood and fear. Protesters—unarmed, singing, kneeling—were sprayed with bullets. I remember feeling sick. Not just in my body, but in my soul. I knew how this would end. We all did.

In Nigeria, power too often answers activism, not with dialogue but with death.

Has Social Media Corrupted Nigeria’s Moral Compass?

 By Shuaib Agaka

When the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, speaks about social media, his primary concern isn’t data privacy or investment—it’s morality.

In a report by  Tech Digest, the country’s top technology regulator was quoted as saying:  “We want to see people using it to promote digital safety, to promote content that will build a stronger nation.”  He lamented that most Nigerians now use social media purely for entertainment. His words strike at the heart of a growing national crisis: as we become one of the world’s largest social media markets, our moral compass and cultural identity are being shaped by algorithms that reward vanity, vulgarity and viral shock value.

Putting An End To Igbophobia

By Ralp Egbu

I had a choice to begin the dissection of national disorganization from reconciliation and unity but I told myself that the right way to enduring reconciliation and national unity would be to first of all discover the unit problems so we can put whatever solutions we come up with in their proper perspective. When this is done we get to the root of the problems.

The bane of national development has had to do with two basic approaches, take problems from the superficial level of the symptoms. World organizations lead us to run with the slogan “wipe out malaria by 2027” and when we want to start we begin with spending very huge national resources to purchase foreign made mosquito nets.

Bokku Advert Is Psychological Warfare

 

By Amanze Obi

Anybody who thinks that the ethnic slur from Bokku Supermarket directed at the Igbo was a mistake must be scratching the issue on the surface. Bokku was certainly no happenstance. It was a well-scripted, properly rehearsed enemy action released to the public for a predetermined purpose – to ridicule the Igbo. 

Those who are wondering how the offensive video passed through all the regulatory authorities and their layers of approval without objection or censorship are not being perceptive enough. When enemy action is at play, censorship takes the back stage. It does not come into the mix.

Independent And Unaccountable: A New Code For Nigeria’s Judiciary

 By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

Among the doctrines that underpin the legal process in Nigeria, few are as profound and pervasive as judicial independence, but no doctrine in the ecosystem of the law rivals its elusiveness.

The idea is ubiquitous in the syllabus of every programme leading to the award of a degree in law, in political science or public administration. After leaving the university, the practitioner will encounter it regularly in conferences and in after-dinner speeches.

The First Time I Was Battered By Policemen

 By Owei Lakemfa

The  images of the police taking on demonstrators in the streets of  Tanzania and Cameroun, following disputed elections,  remind me of the first time I was battered by policemen.

I was 17 and had gone to the Kings Cinema on Lewis street, Lagos Island. After the film, my friend, Albert Biodun Okopie and I were, like many film goers, excitedly discussing the film as we walked on the road.  When  we got to the Magregor Canal, we noticed a small crowd. Parked was a reconfigured 911 bus popularly called ‘Molue’. We joined the crowd to find out what was going on. Two policemen ordered  the crowd to disperse.

Cost Of Governance: Playing Ostrich With The Economy

 By Adekunle Adekoya

Earlier in the week, two renowned economists, one a businessman and the other a traditional ruler used the occasion of a book launch by the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference in Abuja to speak truth to power. They are HRH Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and Mr. Atedo N.A. Peterside, founder of IBTC, which later fused with Stanbic Bank to become Stanbic-IBTC Bank. 

*Tinubu

What came up at the event, which the media focused on, were the reforms of the present administration and the cost of governance.

For Sanusi, the issue was the size and cost of governance. He pointedly asked: “We’ve got to be honest, why do we need 48 ministers? Why do we need dozens of vehicles when we’re moving around in convoys or travelling all over the country?”

Need For Decisive Action On Insecurity

 By Adekunle Adekoya

Recently, the Governor of Niger State, apparently at the end of his tether, vowed never to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom for kidnap victims, saying instead residents must be prepared to defend themselves against attacks. Governor Bago said this when he visited the people of Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas of the state, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora.

His words: “The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business.

Politics Of Lagos Igbo Property Demolitions

 By Ochereome Nnanna

The emergence of Senator Bola Tinubu as the “winner” of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, governorship ticket on December 21,1998, unknown to many, marked a major historic turning point for Lagos State.

Ordinarily, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the man in charge of the party’s primaries in Lagos, should have insisted on a rerun. He did not, mainly because Tinubu’s contributions to Afenifere/NADECO struggle for Abiola’s mandate, especially his exile experience, endeared him to the party’s leaders above his co-contestants, such as Funsho Williams, Wahab Dosunmu, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Rashid Shitta-Bey.

Tinubu And The Politics, Morality Of Presidential Pardons

 By Olu Fasan 

Pardon. An act so seemingly innocuous it should never be controversial. Yet, recently, a state pardon provoked public opprobrium in Nigeria. Why? Because it was wrapped in crude politics and stripped of morality. Pardons are much like gifts: they have a deceptive innocence.

*Tinubu

For instance, gifts are rooted in customs and tradition, but they are also associated with bribery and corruption. Similarly, a presidential pardon loses its moral anchor when it is steeped in impunity and abuse of power. So, it’s understandable why President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to pardon 175 people, most convicted of serious crimes, triggered a spontaneous public outrage.