Latest news with #democraticgovernance
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Planned Rivers state local government election na sign of return to democratic rule?
After more dan two years of political crisis for di oil rich State for Southern Nigeria, Rivers State political landscape don begin stabilize wit di local goment elections wey dem reschedule. Dis na as di Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) release a revised timetable for di election. Dis one na sign to show say dem wan restore democratic governance for di State. RSIEC officials meet wit "critical stakeholders" wey include leaders of political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society groups, religious leaders, academics, and media pipo on Monday to finalize preparations for di local goment elections. Na di newly appointed RSIEC Chairman, Dr Michael Ekpali Odey, call di meeting. Na for dia e conclude wit di announcement say elections into di 319 wards and 23 local goment councils go now hold on 30 August 2025, wey be 21 days later dan di original date of August 9 wey di former RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli Rtd bin announce. According to di new timetable, political parties dey expected to express interest in di elections between July 28 and 30, while party primaries for chairmanship and councillorship positions suppose hold on 2 August 2025. Campaigns go start on 20 August 2025, ahead of di 30 August election day. How Political parties react to di new LGA Council election date? Different political parties react differently to di announcement by RSIEC as some dey ready to cooperate and work wit di new timetable while odas say dem no go participate. Dem say na sake of some legal issues wey surround recent developments, even as odas say dem go review di situation and take a decision later. For di Peoples Democratic Party PDP, di State Chairman Aaron Chukwuemeka say di party dey ready to swing into action to conduct primaries wey go produce candidates for di election. While for di APC, di Tony Okocha led faction dey ready for di polls, but di one led by Emeka Beke say dem no go follow for dis illegal exercise. But tok tok pesin for Rivers APC, Darlington Nwauju tell BBC Pidgin say, "dis na a continuation of di illegality wey don dey happen for Rivers State and we no go be a party to continue am." "If Inec wey be di baba of election for di kontri say sake of di emergency rule wey dey Rivers State, dem no go fit conduct bye elections for Khana Constituency 2 for di Rivers State House of Assembly, [wey di member wey bin dey represent am, Dinebari Loolo die for 2023], den on wat grounds wey RSIEC dey stand to conduct local goment elections for di State? "So we as APC no go participate for dat kain illegality." E tok. For di Action Peoples Party (APP) wey bin win 22 of di 23 LG seat for di last local council elections wey di Supreme Court nullify, di coming elections dey pose some serious legal kwesions wey dem dey ready to ask both di Commission and di law courts. Dis na becos di legal adviser of Action Peoples Party APP, Henry Ekine observe say di chairman of RSIEC bin don justify di postponement of di local goment election from 9 August sake of di State of emergency wey dey Rivers State. "So di fundamental kwesion now na if di situation wey Rivers State dey today, dat is di State of emergency, na di reason to postpone di election from 9 August, dem mean say by if by di 30th of August 2025 di State of emergency still dey dem go postpone di election again?" How di mata reach dis point? Di rescheduling of di Rivers Local Goment elections dey follow di Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025, wey nullify di October 5, 2024, council elections wey govnor Siminialayi Fubara bin conduct, citing violations of di 2022 Electoral Act. Di Supreme court rule say di process, wey di former RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli Rtd carry out, bin dey wrong and lack legal basis. E also bar di Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing dia voters register to RSIEC at di time. Although di Court of Appeal bin don overturn di lower court decision, di All Progressives Congress (APC) pursue di matter to di Supreme Court, wey uphold di original judgment. Dis ruling effectively dissolve all 23 local councils. Following dis judgement, govnor Fubara say e go abide by di decision of di Supreme Court and call all di former local goment chairmen wey bin dey under di Action Peoples Party APP to step aside and handover to do Head of Local Government Administration. Sake of di political crisis wey bin dey di State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declare a state of emergency in Rivers State on 18 March 18, 2025, for an initial six months. E suspend di elected govnor, deputy govnor Prof Ngozi Odu, and di House of Assembly and den appoint Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas Rtd as Sole Administrator to manage di State during di emergency period. Now di e don reach di fifth month, as di emergency rule dey expected to expire on September 18, 2025. As part of di transition back to democratic governance, Ibas dey oversee preparations for di local elections, even though many pesins dey challenge di Rivers State emergency rule for both federal and State High Courts. Controversy around di RSIEC chairman Di appointment of Dr Michael Odey, a retired INEC official as di RSIEC Chairman bin spark some controversy. Dis na becos particular Dr Odey no be Rivers prsin, e come from Cross River and e come without any consultation wit di suspended state leadership. However, after a conciliatory visit to di National Assembly, tensions reduce and di National Assembly approve im appointment. For di meeting on Monday, Dr Odey assure all political stakeholders and di pipo of Rivers State say di commission go deliver a free, fair, peaceful, and credible local goment elections. As di countdown now officially dey on, di coming weeks go dey critical to determine how fast Rivers State fit return to democratic normalcy after months of federal intervention and emergency rule.
Zawya
19-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
President Mahama meets Alex Soros of the Open Society Foundations
President John Dramani Mahama held a highly productive meeting on Friday with Mr. Alex Soros, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Open Society Foundations (OSF). The discussion centred on Ghana's notable progress in economic recovery, democratic governance, and regional stability. President Mahama took the opportunity to brief Mr. Soros on the key policy measures driving Ghana's economic revival and the notable progress being made. He elaborated on the government's 'Reset Agenda' aimed at fostering a positive national mindset, ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability institutions, and recent developments within the ECOWAS sub-region. Ghana: A Beacon of Democracy. President Mahama reiterated Ghana's unwavering commitment to upholding the values of democracy, respect for human rights, and the fundamental freedoms of its citizenry. He noted Ghana's stellar reputation for democratic governance, marked by peaceful transitions under its 33-year-old Fourth Republican Constitution. 'We've had nine elections, all of which have been successful. And we've experienced several peaceful changes of government from one party to another, all of which have occurred smoothly.' On the economic front, President Mahama stated that Ghana's economy is recovering rapidly, a direct result of bold fiscal and monetary policies underpinned by robust governance principles. He noted the appreciation of the Ghana Cedi by approximately 42% and a sharp decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio, with the government targeting single-digit inflation in the coming months. The President acknowledged that investor confidence had waned in the past due to governance challenges and weakened institutions. However, he reassured Mr. Soros that his administration is committed to non-interference in corruption-related cases and has instituted strict disciplinary measures for all appointees. 'There was a lot of corruption and a lack of accountability. So, we came in with a comprehensive programme to strengthen anti-corruption institutions,' President Mahama explained, referencing the 'Operation Recover All the Loot (ORAL),' a major initiative to recover state assets. 'You will continue to hear of prosecutions and other measures against individuals who have mismanaged public resources, as we steadfastly pursue accountability.' Addressing the delicate relations with the three Sahelian countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger – President Mahama assured Mr. Soros of positive progress in ongoing efforts to reunite the sub-region. He referred to visits to the three countries to establish channels for continuous communication and dialogue. 'We held an ECOWAS meeting barely three weeks ago, and happily, the whole mood has changed. There is now a clear appetite for rapprochement between ECOWAS and the three countries,' he said. 'Discussions are ongoing between the ECOWAS Secretariat and these nations. In the meantime, we all agreed to prioritise the free movement of people and goods across our borders and encourage transit trade.' On his part, Mr. Alex Soros congratulated President Mahama on his re-election victory and commended his leadership. He explained that his visit to Ghana was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS. He noted that the Open Society Foundations in Africa have historically championed ECOWAS integration, celebrating significant achievements such as visa-free travel. Mr. Soros, an investor and philanthropist, expressed his foundation's interest in exploring partnerships and providing support for further regional integration efforts. Besides chairing the OSF Board, he also sits on the investment committee for the Soros Fund Management. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
