Politics
Insults, Lies Dominate Political Campaigns In Nigeria – Obasanjo
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday decried the style of political campaigns in the country, calling for a change in orientation.
Obasanjo spoke at an international conference on “Deepening Democratic Culture And Institutions For Sustainable Development And Security in Nigeria”.
He delivered a keynote address on “Respecting the principles of democracy” at the Obi Wali Convention Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Obasanjo lamented how ordinary citizens are dragged into the directionless, meaningless and opportunistic personal or narrow ambitions of leaders.
“Political campaigns are taken over by insults, lies, self and selfish interest and diversions, not on issues of national interest and progress. Party platforms are developed, launched with fanfare and promptly discarded.
“Critical issues are discarded as intellectuals and technocrats are sidelined while minions, gatekeepers and job hunters take over the campaign and build iron rings around candidates at all levels. Candidates are caged and milked opportunistically.”
Obasanjo said at the end, people who get elected fail to carry Nigerians along as they lack a deep understanding of the trends and tendencies in the social and economic system.
The retired General maintained that politics is not a dirty game, pointing out that the rules and principles are all there and known to most actors.
He said when actors confuse the beginning with the end or adopt the infamous Machiavellian dictum that the end justifies the means, they get set for a race without boundaries, where anything goes.
Obasanjo claimed politics and political competition get imprisoned as the actors invent new rules of engagement as they go along and seek to outdo one another in non-beneficial issues to the ordinary citizen.
READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Those Threatening To Punish Me Will Lose Election, Wike Warns Atiku, Ayu
On governance, the former Head of State noted that each new government behaves as if Nigeria is a newly found country.
“During campaigns, some leaders sound as if they plan to reinvent Nigeria and create new Nigerians overnight. That is because they miss the aspect of democracy that emphasizes continuity, stability and predictability.”
Obasanjo, however, urged the people to urgently get back to the basics and rebuild our commitment to democratic practice.
“We must take some time for introspection and ask if we have been doing the right things for ourselves and for future generations. It is not rocket science to get back on the path of democracy and social justice. It begins with self-commitment, then leadership commitment”, he added.
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Politics
INEC Fixes Voter Registration Resumption Dates For Anambra Election, Nationwide
Published
13 hours agoon
June 26, 2025By
Editor
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in Anambra on July 17 and nationwide on Aug. 18.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at the commission’s quarterly meeting with political parties on Thursday in Abuja.
Yakubu said that in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra, the CVR exercise would be held at two levels.
He said the exercise would commence in the 326 wards across the state on July 8 and end on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, including the weekend.
READ ALSO: Anambra Governorship: INEC Publishes Final List, Announces Date For Campaign
“During the registration period, new voters as well as those who wish to transfer their registration to Anambra from other states of the federation or from one location to another within the state will have the opportunity to do so.
“Similarly, registered voters whose Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were lost or damaged will have the opportunity to apply for replacement.
“Uncollected PVCs from previous registrations will also be available for collection at the registration centres.
“Interested eligible Nigerian citizens are encouraged to appear in person to register,” he said.
The INEC chairman, however, explained that the online pre-registration option is currently unavailable.
READ ALSO: INEC Releases Details Of 16 Anambra Guber Candidates
Yakubu added that voter registration and compilation of the voters’ register must be completed not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the election as provided by law.
“For the nationwide CVR, the commission has approved resumption of the online and in-person registration of voters in all states of the federation.
“The online pre-registration will start on Aug. 18, while the in-person registration will follow on Aug. 25.
“The exercise will be held simultaneously in all states and the FCT as well as the 774 Local Government Area offices nationwide,” he said.
Yakubu said the detailed schedule of activities would be released soon.
(NAN)
Politics
2027: Drama As Two ‘ADA’ Emerge In INEC’s List Of 110 Party Registration Bids
Published
1 day agoon
June 26, 2025By
Editor
Two political associations seeking registration as political parties have submitted identical acronyms to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
According to Vanguard, the first is the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, being promoted by Chief Akin Ricketts and said to be one of the special purpose vehicles that the anti-Tinubu coalition is seeking to use as a platform in the 2027 general election.
While the Ricketts ADA is 109 on the INEC list, the other ADA, Advanced Democratic Alliance, is 110, the last one the list unveiled by the electoral umpire.
This second ADA has Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman as Protem Chairman and Zipporah Pius Miracles as Secretary.
READ ALSO: Atiku, El-Rufai Coalition Seeks INEC Registration For New Party
The Ricketts ADA has its national headquarters at Ground Floor, UAC Complex, Plot 273 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street, CBD, Abuja, FCT.
Suleiman’s ADA has its national headquarters at 1 Frandriance Close, Off Oda Crescent, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, no fewer than 110 political associations have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking registration as political parties.

Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, on Wednesday declared that the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum, is the problem of the party.
Suswam, who insisted that Damagum is not a leader, said the party has been drifting downwards since he assumed the role of acting National Chairman.
Featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former governor said, “There is no integrity in the leadership of PDP, I’m happy that Wike said it.
READ ALSO::
“I have consistently said that Damagum is not a leader. What has happened here is that after the meeting with INEC, a good leader would have met with the National Working Committee members to brief them before holding any press conference.
“Damagum has been the problem of the PDP since he assumed the acting National Chairman of the party. The party has been drifting downward, I have said this thing consistently.
“First and foremost, he breached the provisions of the constitution which said that he must act for a period and this position must go back to the North Central.”
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