Category: Africa

ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — Voters in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, will head to polling stations tomorrow to elect chairmen for the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Unlike in Nigeria’s 36 states, where local government elections are conducted by state electoral commissions, the Abuja council polls are organized and supervised directly by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The 2026 Abuja Area Council elections will be the first overseen by the recently appointed INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan. The conduct of the polls is widely regarded as a litmus test for his leadership and a precursor to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

Tomorrow’s exercise will cover 2,822 polling units, with approximately 1.6 million registered voters expected to participate.

Since assuming office in October 2025, Professor Amupitan has pledged to deliver free, fair, and transparent elections, emphasizing the restoration of voter confidence by ensuring that every ballot truly counts.

The Abuja Area Council elections also come in the wake of controversies and protests surrounding recent amendments to Nigeria’s 2022 Electoral Act, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. READ HERE

LAGOS, NIGERIA (NPA): Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, has paid tribute to American civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson, who passed away on 17 February 2026. Wine, the presidential candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Uganda’s last election, described Jackson as a towering figure whose life embodied the universal struggle for human rights.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Wine said Jackson “taught us that the struggle for human rights is a universal calling to humanity as a whole. He also taught us that ordinary people, when organised and courageous, can successfully confront and topple or force to reform entrenched systems of injustice.”

Wine, who has faced persistent harassment from state operatives since President Yoweri Museveni secured a seventh term in January 2026, noted that Jackson’s life was a reminder that “moral courage will always outlive oppression. Despite facing hostility and imprisonment, he never abandoned his belief in the power of the people.” He added that peaceful struggle, as Jackson embodied, can bring about meaningful change if citizens remain resolute.

The musician-turned-politician has endured years of confrontation with the Ugandan state:

• 2017 – Wins Kyadondo East parliamentary seat, drawing government scrutiny.
• 2018 – Arrested and charged with treason after protests in Arua; alleges torture in custody, sparking international condemnation.
• 2019–2020 – Multiple concerts banned; files a case with the Uganda Human Rights Commission over restrictions on his music career.
• 2020 – Launches the National Unity Platform (NUP); government questions its registration, but the High Court dismisses the challenge.
• 2021 – Runs against Museveni; placed under house arrest after voting, with opposition MPs and lawyers blocked from visiting him.
• 2022–2023 – Faces restrictions on rallies and public gatherings; civil society highlights harassment of NUP supporters.
• 2024 – Withdraws his Human Rights Commission case over blocked concerts, citing lack of progress.
• 2025 – Electoral Commission accuses him of escalating clashes with security forces during campaign activities.

Wine’s disputes with the Ugandan government span political repression, restrictions on his music career, arrests, and challenges to his party’s legitimacy—reflecting the broader struggle between Uganda’s opposition and President Museveni’s long-standing administration.

Tinubu Signs Amendments to Nigeria’s 2022 Electoral Act, Emphasises Need for Continuous Reform

ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA): President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law amendments to Nigeria’s 2022 Electoral Act, a move that has stirred debate among political parties, civil society groups, and electoral stakeholders. The signing follows weeks of protests by opposition leaders and activists over the contentious issue of compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results.

In a statement issued Wednesday, President Tinubu stressed that the reforms were aimed at strengthening electoral processes rather than serving political interests. “These amendments are not about politics. They are about process. They are about closing gaps, strengthening procedures, and providing greater clarity to those who conduct and participate in our elections,” he said. He added, “When citizens walk into a polling unit, they must do so with confidence. When results are declared, they must be trusted. That confidence is built deliberately, and not by chance.”

The President commended the National Assembly for what he described as its “cooperation and sense of national responsibility” in concluding the legislative process. He underscored the importance of continuous improvement in Nigeria’s electoral system to ensure that elections remain fair, credible, and reflective of the people’s will.

The amendments, however, remain controversial. Critics argue that provisions on result transmission are vague, leaving room for manipulation. Clause 60 of the bill became a flashpoint in the Senate, with opposition lawmakers insisting that electronic transmission should be mandatory to safeguard credibility. Supporters countered that flexibility was necessary to accommodate rural areas with poor internet connectivity.

Beyond result transmission, civil society groups have raised concerns about gaps in campaign financing regulations, inclusivity measures, and enforcement of electoral offences. They argue that the reforms do not adequately address systemic issues such as election security or the participation of women, youths, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also called for clarity in the law, warning that ambiguity could erode public trust. Former INEC officials, including Mike Igini, urged the President not to sign the bill unless it guaranteed electronic transmission, cautioning that vague provisions could weaken transparency. INEC maintains that reforms must enhance electoral integrity rather than introduce loopholes that undermine credibility.