Politics

EU, AU, Commonwealth, ECOWAS Election Mission Ask Political Parties to Seek Legal Redress If They Are Not Satisfy With Electoral Process

Published

3 years ago

February 28, 2023

EU, AU, Commonwealth, ECOWAS Election Mission Ask Political Parties to Seek Legal Redress If They Are Not Satisfy With Electoral Process

By: Michael Mike

The European Union, African Union, Commonwealth, ECOWAS Missions to the 2023 Nigeria’s Election have asked any of the presidential candidate or political party that is not satisfied with the electoral process to seek legal redress.

Presenting their preliminary reports on the Presidential/National Assembly Elections, the European Union, African Union, Commonwealth, ECOWAS Missions to the 2023 Nigeria’s Election, while admitting that the election was better than past elections, but asked candidates and their parties to seek legal redress as provider under Nigeria’s law if they are aggrieved.

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group, former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, while delivering his team’s preliminary assessment of the electoral process at a press conference in Abuja, noted that the Nigeria’s 2023 general elections were “largely peaceful” despite administrative and logistical hurdles at many polling units.

He said: “Nigerians were largely accorded the right to vote,” adding that: “We congratulate all Nigerians for their determination, patience and resilience displayed throughout the electoral process.”

He said as Nigeria waits for the final results, he appealed to all citizens to exercise patience to allow the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its staff to conclude the results process peacefully.

Mbeki said: “We call on all those with grievances to address disputes through prescribed legal channels,” insisting that: “The time now is for restraint and continued patience as we await the final results.”

He commended the commitment shown by voters, despite the late arrival of election officials and materials at many polling units, technical issues with biometric identification machines in some cases, and delays with the live results transmission system.

Mbeki also praised the polling officials for conducting their duties diligently, while noting some inconsistencies in procedures, particularly in the positioning of some polling booths which compromised the secrecy of the ballot as well as lack of advance voting for those deployed on election day.

He expressed that as voting hours extended into the night due to late openings, some polling units were ill-equipped with proper lighting to facilitate voting and counting in the dark.

However considering the challenges, he encouraged the electoral commission to conduct a thorough post-election review of the electoral process to draw lessons and consider setting up appropriate mechanisms to implement the recommendations of observers.

He also noted an improvement with the enactment of a new Electoral Act in 2022, which gave the electoral commission more autonomy, legal backing for the use of electronic accreditation of voters and frameworks for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the elections, among other things.

He noted the low percentage of women candidates, but however said the group was impressed by the “vibrant participation” of young people, including as polling officials, in the elections.

He noted that Commonwealth observers were in Benue, Edo, Kano, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers and Sokoto states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

The European Union Observer Mission, on its part, urged Nigerians to rely on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) for results of the presidential and National Assembly polls, insisting that the social media is not a credible source.

EU gave this advice on Monday, while delivery its preliminary report on the election.

According to Barry Andrew, EU Chief Observer and Head of EU EOM, “Social media was actively used by political actors as a campaign tool. However, the platforms were misused to spread harmful content, including disinformation on key electoral processes; the measures the
platforms took to protect electoral integrity were insufficient.

“Misleading information also came from
political actors and contributed to a blurred information environment for voters.”

He however commended the media and the Civil Society Organisation for joining forces to fact check.

He said, “Online and offline media joined forces with civil society and fact checkers to safeguard the integrity of the preelection information environment. Realtime fact checking of gubernatorial and other contestants’debates strived to hold candidates accountable, while various formats of voter information, raised voter awareness and helped to counter electoral insecurity, complementing INEC efforts.”

The EU Preliminary report presented by Andrew, observed that the electoral process lacked transparency, it also showed that the process operational failures, which reduced trust in the process.

EU also said despite the confidence reposed in INEC by stakeholders, the electoral body’s lack of efficient planning in critical stages and effective public communication reduced trust in the process, including on election day.

Andrew said, “On 25 February, Nigerians went to the polls in highly anticipated presidential and National Assembly
elections that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) kept on schedule despite a volatile
and challenging environment.

“Fundamental freedoms of assembly and movement were largely respected, yet the full enjoyment of the latter was impeded by insufficient planning, insecurity and the prevailing Naira and fuel shortages.

“Abuse of incumbency by various political office holders distorted the playing
field and there were widespread allegations of vote buying.

“The EU EOM is continuing its observation of the ongoing collation and tabulation of
results throughout the country.

“INEC’s operational capacity was hampered by the ongoing fuel and Naira shortage. Insecurity prevented
it from accessing some Local Government Areas (LGAs), notably in the South. Attacks on INEC premises, including just days before polling, hindered preparations in affected areas, while instilling fear in voters.

“Overall, stakeholders had expressed confidence in INEC’s independence, professionalism, and voter
information efforts, but this decreased ahead of elections.

“INEC lacked efficient planning and transparency during critical stages of the electoral process, while on election day trust in INEC was seen to further
reduce due to delayed polling processes and information gaps related to much anticipated access to results
on its Results Viewing Portal (IReV).

“In the lead-up to elections, the widely welcomed Electoral Act 2022 introduced measures aimed at building stakeholder trust, however leaving some important gaps in terms of accountability and INEC’s power to enforce the law.

“Weak points include a lack of INEC empowerment to enforce sanctions for
electoral offences and breaches of campaign finance rules. Positively, INEC benefited from more timely
financingthan for previous contests. Other new provisions also aimed to enhance transparency of results.

“The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV for the 2023 elections was perceived as an important step to ensure the integrity and credibility of elections.

“However, delayed training of technical personnel, an inadequate mock testing exercise, and a lack of public information on the election technologies diminished expectations and left room for speculation and uncertainty.

“During the early stages of collation, presidential result forms from polling units were not displayed on the
IReV, while Senate and House of Representative results were slowly published.

“Presidential election result
forms started to be uploaded after 10 pm on election day, raising concerns.

On her part, EU Parliament Head of Delegation, Ms. Evin Incir expressed concern that less than 10 percent of candidates were women.

Incir therefore urged the next government and Parliament to look into the manifestos of the main political parties to include affirmative action, such as quotas.

2023 Elections: AU, ECOWAS Observers task INEC on credible conclusions.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observation Missions deployed to the Nigerian general elections wants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve on the encountrered challenges for credible conclusions of the electoral process.

The Head of African Union Observation Mission and Former President of Kenya, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta , together with Leader of the ECOWAS Observer Mission and Former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bi Koroma, made the call in Abuja during a joint preliminary briefing on the elections.

The head of the observation missions urged Nigerians to remain calm until the announcement of the final result from INEC, cautioning against disinformation and fake news especially on social media platforms that would incite post-election violence.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Koroma said the AU and EU Observation Missions is urging INEC to improve on its communications strategies to avoid any form of speculations, disinformation and fake news.

The Leader of the ECOWAS delegation said that beyond Observation Mission, it was in Nigeria alongside the AU Mission on a diplomacy engagement to ensure a peaceful transition.

The Head of AU Observation Mission, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta while also also fielding questions from journalists urged INEC to adress all challenges encountered so that the process can be brought to a credible and peaceful conclusion.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray appreciated the AU and ECOWAS Observation Missions who came on the invitation of the ECOWAS Commissions for delivering on their mandate.

He also thanked the Media for the good coverage of the elections especially at a time where fake news have dominated the media space.

Touray said that “ECOWAS will indeed follow results closely and continue to reach out to all stakeholders within the framework of preventive diplomacy.”

EU, AU, Commonwealth, ECOWAS Election Mission Ask Political Parties to Seek Legal Redress If They Are Not Satisfy With Electoral Process

Politics

Midala 2027: A Call for Accountability in Hawul and Askira/Uba Constituency

Published

5 hours ago

February 22, 2026

News Net Global

Hon. Midala Usman Balami

Midala 2027: A Call for Accountability in Hawul and Askira/Uba Constituency

Dr. James Bwala

It is the right of every constituent member to ask questions of their representative on how they run with the trust we gave them. The best time to ask questions, however, is when the elections are approaching. For us in the Hawul and Askira/Uba federal constituency, this is the time for us to begin to ask our representative, Dr. Midala Usman Balami, what he did or did not do with the mandate we gave him on trust against all odds in 2023. This is the right thing to do because the relationship between constituents and their representatives is built on a foundation of trust and accountability. This trust is cultivated through promises made during campaigns, upheld by actions taken while in office, and reinforced through consistent communication and service to the people.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/lent-and-ramadan-tribute-to-the-jagaban-of-burgu-and-the-jagoran-arewa/

In the case of Hon. Midala Usman Balami, the member representing the Hawul and Askira/Uba federal constituency in Borno State, that sacred trust appears to have been severely compromised. We, as constituents, find ourselves grappling with feelings of disillusionment as we witness actions that suggest not only a betrayal of our confidence but also an alarming disregard for the responsibilities entrusted to him.

The recent incidents involving Hon. Balami have elicited strong reactions from the electorate. Reports indicate that he allegedly placed a close friend in police custody following a minor disagreement, reflecting an unsettling pattern of using his position not for the benefit of the people but for personal aggrandizement. Reports back home suggest a total betrayal of trust as our people come with different stories that touch the heart. The stories we hear as we interview constituent members left us with the feelings that they leave with every day. Their lives, their stories tell of a tale our people had to deal with under what I can only call a detailed representation.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/lent-and-ramadan-tribute-to-the-jagaban-of-burgu-and-the-jagoran-arewa/

The actions and inactions of our representative in the green chamber left our people in the mercy of political rhetoric on papers and tears of bitterness on the ground. His actions of putting a friend they called “Bold Lion” in police net have travelled to every home in both Hawul and Askira/Uba local governments, portraying a legacy mark he is bringing into our society. Such actions speak deeply within a society that values community and solidarity. To betray a friend in such a manner speaks volumes not only about his character but also the values he embodies as our elected representative. In the eyes of many constituents, this incident marks him as one of the worst representatives in the history of our local governments—a stark departure from the ideals we expect from our leaders.

The issue of resource allocation presents a critical disparity between Hon. Balami’s claims and his apparent lifestyle choices. He has frequently lamented the limited resources he receives as constituency allocations, arguing that these constraints hinder his ability to serve effectively. Yet, juxtaposed against this narrative is the observation of massive structures rising under his name and reports of his family residing abroad. The juxtaposition of his proclamations of scarcity with the visible evidence of wealth raises red flags and prompts serious questions: Where is this money coming from? Is it truly representative of the interests of our constituency, or has it been diverted towards personal gain?

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/lent-and-ramadan-tribute-to-the-jagaban-of-burgu-and-the-jagoran-arewa/

The constituents of Hawul and Askira/Uba are awakening to the realization that our trust has been misplaced. It is crucial to remember that while we do not harbor hatred towards Hon. Balami, it is our civic duty to hold him accountable for his actions. Our mandate as voters extends beyond mere electoral participation; it encompasses continuous scrutiny of those we elect to represent us. The upcoming 2027 elections present an opportunity for the electorate to reflect upon the performance of their representative critically.

We must ask ourselves: What legacy has Hon. Balami created during his time in office? Has he fulfilled his duties to the community, or has he prioritized personal interests over public service? These inquiries are essential in determining whether or not he deserves another chance at serving our constituency. The answers will lie not only in his public statements but also in the tangible impact of his policies and initiatives on our daily lives.

A representative who claims to be constrained by limited resources yet engages in lavish expenditures sends a message—either he is misleading us about the available allocations, or he is failing in his duties to prioritize the needs of the people. Either scenario is unacceptable. The integrity of our political system relies on honesty and transparency; both are vital components that influence public trust. As constituents, we possess the right to demand clarity about how our resources are being managed. The narrative of scarcity should not overshadow the realities of mismanagement or personal exploitation of public funds.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/lent-and-ramadan-tribute-to-the-jagaban-of-burgu-and-the-jagoran-arewa/

The impact of having a representative who does not understand the essence of accountability cannot be underestimated. The actions of Hon. Balami affect the broader landscape of governance and have insinuated a rift between his office and the very people he represents. What messages does this send to young citizens who look to our leaders as role models? The notion that public service can be synonymous with self-interest undermines the noble intention of political representation.

As we move closer to the next electoral cycle, the imperative becomes clear: we must illuminate the actions of Hon. Midala Usman Balami, bringing to light the discrepancies between his promises and his actions. A movement is taking shape within our constituency, fueled by a collective desire for change. This moment calls for an active engagement of all members of the community to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and mobilize efforts towards ensuring that our electoral processes yield representatives who embody the principles of integrity, humility, and commitment to service.

In this regard, it is essential to empower constituents with information. Knowledge is a potent tool in the fight against misinformation and the potential continuation of flawed leadership. Through community meetings, town halls, and social media platforms, constituents must share their experiences, concerns, and aspirations. Let us ensure that our voices echo the sentiments of powerlessness we have experienced under the current representation. By fostering a culture of active citizenship, we can lay the groundwork for a future where representatives recognize that their authority comes with responsibility, not privilege.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/lent-and-ramadan-tribute-to-the-jagaban-of-burgu-and-the-jagoran-arewa/

We must embrace the power of unity in the face of dissatisfaction. Engaging with local organizations, advocacy groups, and other community stakeholders can amplify our voice and strengthen our resolve to demand accountability. As constituents, we are collectively responsible for upholding the principle of representation; as such, we must refuse to remain complacent in the face of ineffectiveness and dishonesty. The upcoming elections are not just another chance to cast a vote; they are an opportunity to reclaim our agency as citizens who demand better governance.

Ultimately, our goal is not to vilify Hon. Midala Usman Balami but to challenge him to rise to the occasion. The political landscape often thrives on rhetoric, but we must transcend this by grounding our demands in reality. Let us engage in constructive debates, highlight the importance of ethical leadership, and advocate for policies that genuinely reflect the needs of the people. With concerted efforts, we can instigate change that compels our representative to recognize that his position is a privilege to serve rather than a platform to exploit.

READ ALSO:https://newsng.ng/lent-and-ramadan-tribute-to-the-jagaban-of-burgu-and-the-jagoran-arewa/

As the clock ticks toward the 2027 elections, we, as constituents of Hawul and Askira/Uba, stand on the precipice of decision-making. Let us not forget that each action we take, every conversation we have, and every vote we cast shapes the future of our constituency. Together, we can forge a path toward accountability, transparency, and effective representation. It is time to lift the veil on the actions of Hon. Midala Usman Balami demands explanations for the disparities between his claims and his reality and ultimately makes an informed choice for the future of our beloved constituency.

Together, let us reclaim our trust, dignity, and future. The fate of our constituency rests not only in the hands of our leaders but also in ours as the vigilant electorate. Let this be a wake-up call for all of us—a reminder that our collective voice is powerful and capable of enacting real change.

* James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

Midala 2027: A Call for Accountability in Hawul and Askira/Uba Constituency

Politics

APC conducts congress in 17 local councils in Yobe

Published

17 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

APC conducts congress in 17 local councils in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The All Progressives Congress (APC) local government congresses were conducted successfully in all the seventeen local government areas of Yobe state.

The exercise was conducted by consensus throughout all the 17 local government areas of the state and monitored by the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The chairman of critical stakeholders of the Nangere local government area, who is also the former deputy governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Aliyu Saleh Bagare, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the congress.

He commended the party stakeholders of Nangere local government for their maturity, adding that this shows the strong structure and the unity of the party in the area.

Yobe State Commissioner of Works, Engineer Umar Wakil Duddaye, who is also a strong stakeholder of the party, expressed his happiness with the smooth conduct of the congress.

Engineer Duddaye urges the newly elected party executives to observe their success as a call to serve all the APC members in the Nangere local government, Yobe state, and Nigeria as a whole.

APC conducts congress in 17 local councils in Yobe

News

Zulum Present as INEC Monitors APC Ward Congress in Mafa Ward

Published

3 days ago

February 20, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Present as INEC Monitors APC Ward Congress in Mafa Ward

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday, travelled to Mafa to witness the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses.

Zulum, who was accompanied by APC’s Deputy National Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, Hon Mohammed Jaha (Babawo), and the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, expressed satisfaction with the seamless and orderly conduct of the process.p

The governor’s entourage also comprises the APC State Chairman, Bello Ayuba, Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai, among other senior party executives.

Party members across Mafa ward converged to elect new executives. The exercise, which was held simultaneously across the 312 wards in Borno State, was conducted by consensus to ensure unity and harmony within the party.

Borno State Commissioner for Health, Professor Baba Mallam Gana, chaired the ward congress committee, while the Mafa Local Government Electoral Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Salihu Muktari, monitored the exercise.

Addressing party faithful shortly after the conclusion of the exercise at Mafa, Zulum expressed gratitude for the peaceful atmosphere. He commended the party’s national leadership for deploying a competent team to oversee the process.

“I am happy with the smooth conduct of this exercise. There was no rancour, no bitterness, and that is the spirit of the APC family. I want to commend the committee sent by the APC national headquarters for their diligence and fair play,” Governor Zulum stated.

The governor also lauded party stakeholders and members in Mafa for their maturity and commitment to the party’s internal democracy, urging the newly elected ward executives to see their emergence as a call to service.

“To the new executives, this is not about personal glory but about taking the party to greater heights at the grassroots. You are the closest to the people, and you must work to unite our members and strengthen our structure,” he added.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward/Local Government Congresses Screening Committees, Screening Appeals Committees, as well as the Ward/LGA Congresses (election) and Congresses Appeal Committees members, headed by Prophet Jones Erue, were also in Mafa to observe the conduct of the exercise.

Zulum Present as INEC Monitors APC Ward Congress in Mafa Ward