Politics – Page 4 – National Daily Newspaper

Atiku’s attack on Tinubu’s vacation ‘embarrassing, poorly researched’ — Abati

Atiku’s attack on Tinubu’s vacation ‘embarrassing, poorly researched’ — Abati

Former presidential aide, Reuben Abati, has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s...

2027: INEC chairman orders administrative secretaries in 36 states, FCT to close operational gaps, adopt unified playbook

Latest2 weeks ago

Anambra 2027: INEC, NDC clash over 10 disputed Assembly candidates

The controversy over the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly candidate list has deepened, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejecting allegations that it removed...

Tinubu’s FBI records: Omokri challenges claims, cites 2003 Embassy reply

Latest2 weeks ago

Tinubu’s FBI records: Omokri challenges claims, cites 2003 Embassy reply

Reno Omokri has dismissed reports claiming that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released criminal records concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to...

APC Governorship Crisis Rocks Ogun as Hunye Rejects Adeola’s Candidacy

Latest2 weeks ago

Ogun 2027: Legal, political battle erupts over APC governorship ticket

The battle for the 2027 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has escalated into a bitter political and legal...

Atiku challenges Tinubu’s decision to vacation abroad amid economic hardship

Latest2 weeks ago

Atiku challenges Tinubu’s decision to vacation abroad amid economic hardship

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to embark on a three-week vacation in Europe, questioning the timing of the trip...

Peller unites APM candidates, leaders in Oyo North ahead of 2027 elections

Latest2 weeks ago

Peller unites APM candidates, leaders in Oyo North ahead of 2027 elections

Former federal lawmaker and Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) senatorial flagbearer for Oyo North, Hon. Shina Peller, has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections with a...

Latest2 weeks ago

Who wants Tinubu out? Inside Nigeria’s emerging battle for political power

By Olusegun Odunewu From subsidy removal and foreign-exchange reforms to the 2027 succession battle, President Bola Tinubu’s presidency is increasingly becoming a contest over who controls...

Ekiti PDP disowns Makinde mobilisation, rejects reported APM alliance

Politics3 weeks ago

Ekiti PDP disowns Makinde mobilisation, rejects reported APM alliance

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from reports that it has begun grassroots mobilisation in support of Oyo State...

Osun 2026: Vote-Buying, Security Concerns Raise Fresh Questions Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections OSOGBO — The 2026 Osun State governorship election has ended, but concerns over vote-buying, electoral technology, security and public trust could offer important lessons as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. The August 15 election was largely peaceful across the state, with election observers commending voters and electoral officials for the overall conduct of the poll. However, reports of voter inducement, technical difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and isolated incidents of violence highlighted persistent weaknesses in Nigeria's electoral process. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), in its preliminary assessment, reported BVAS delays and biometric verification problems in several local government areas, while observers also recorded allegations of vote-buying and isolated security incidents. Vote-buying remains a major concern One of the strongest warnings from Osun was the continued presence of vote-buying and voter inducement. Yiaga Africa said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with its independent statistical projections, but cautioned that this did not remove concerns about the integrity of voters' choices amid reports of vote-buying and inducement. The concern is particularly significant ahead of 2027, when political competition will take place nationwide and involve presidential, National Assembly and state-level contests. The International Republican Institute (IRI), following a pre-election assessment mission conducted in August, identified monetised political competition, election-related violence, insecurity and declining public confidence in INEC among the structural challenges facing the 2027 elections. IRI recommended stronger investigation and prosecution of vote-buying and voter inducement, urging INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and security agencies to act on credible allegations. Technology improves transparency — but has limits The Osun election also demonstrated how electoral technology can improve transparency. INEC's electronic transmission of polling-unit results through the IReV platform provided observers and members of the public with a mechanism to monitor uploaded results. Yiaga Africa subsequently said the official results were consistent with its independent statistical estimates, describing the outcome as evidence that the announced results reflected the ballots counted at polling units. However, technical problems with BVAS were reported during voting. CDD said difficulties involving biometric verification and slow processing occurred in several LGAs, including Irepodun, Ejigbo, Obokun, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ola Oluwa, Ede North and Ede South. These problems underline the need for INEC to ensure that electoral technology is not only available but also reliable, properly tested and supported by effective backup systems. Security remains another test for 2027 Although voting was generally peaceful, isolated incidents of violence and disruption were reported during the Osun poll. CDD called for security agencies to maintain political neutrality, investigate reported incidents and protect voters regardless of their political affiliation. IRI has similarly warned that insecurity and election-related violence could undermine meaningful political participation in 2027. Its assessment noted that more than 81 election-related violent incidents had been recorded in Osun in the year preceding the governorship election, with violence increasing as Election Day approached. The institute urged security agencies to identify high-risk areas early and develop location-specific plans to prevent intimidation, disruption and attacks on electoral participants. Osun offers lessons ahead of 2027 Despite the challenges, observers say the Osun election also provides evidence that improvements in election administration can produce positive results. Yiaga Africa's assessment found that INEC and security agencies largely passed the test of conducting the election, while its independent verification indicated that the official results accurately reflected the ballots counted at polling units. The challenge ahead is to build on those gains while addressing the weaknesses exposed during the election. For INEC, that means improving BVAS reliability, strengthening result-transmission and collation procedures and maintaining clear communication with voters and political parties. For security agencies, it means preventing electoral violence and ensuring that investigations and prosecutions are not selective. Political parties also face pressure to take greater responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, agents and supporters, particularly over voter inducement and intimidation. A bigger test awaits in 2027 The central lesson from Osun may be that a technically transparent election is not automatically the same as a completely free election. Electronic transmission can make results easier to monitor, but technology cannot by itself prevent voters from being offered money, threatened or pressured before they cast their ballots. IRI's latest assessment similarly stressed that the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on technical administration but also on security, consistent application of electoral rules, timely communication and public confidence in INEC. With Nigeria's 2027 general elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the Osun experience provides both a warning and an opportunity: the country has made progress in electoral transparency, but vote-buying, insecurity and declining trust must be confronted before they are magnified across a nationwide election.

Politics3 weeks ago

After Osun, what Is the biggest warning sign for Nigeria’s 2027 election?

The 2026 Osun State governorship election has ended, but concerns over vote-buying, electoral technology, security and public trust could offer important lessons as Nigeria prepares for...

Impeachment crisis: Panic as suspected thugs storm Ondo Assembly complex

Latest3 weeks ago

Impeachment crisis: Panic as suspected thugs storm Ondo Assembly complex

The leadership crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly escalated on Thursday after suspected thugs allegedly invaded the legislative complex, heightening tension over...