The registration has increased the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21.

INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

The two new parties, according to Amupitan, are Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA, and Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

He explained that DLA was registered, being the only association out of the 171 associations seeking INEC registration as political parties, and that NDC was registered in obedience to court order.

Amupitan recalled that INEC received a total of 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.

He said  the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 75 and 79(1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.

“Consequently, 14 associations that satisfied the initial pre-qualification were invited to proceed to the next stage. Of these, eight successfully uploaded their documents on the commission’s dedicated portal.

“They are the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).

“Out of the eight above, only two qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“After due consideration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance was found to have complied fully with the requirements of the law.

“Accordingly, the commission decided to register the DLA as a political party, effective from today, February 5,  2025.

“Furthermore, the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi,  in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

“The commission has decided to comply with the order and is being registered as a political party. Certificate of Registration will be handed over to the two new political parties in due course,” he said.

Amupitan, however, expressed concerns over increasing internal crossing within political parties, urging party leaders to prioritise constructive dialogue over divisive disputes, to foster unity within their ranks.

He expressed INEC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes, which was being challenged by increasingly frequent leadership squabbles within various political parties across the nation.

He said the essence of democracy was rooted in the ability of political parties to flourish, debate, and contest ideologies in a manner that respected the tenets of fair play and mutual respect.

“However, it is with great concern that I note the current trend of infighting among party leaderships, which not only detracts from the core objectives of these political entities but also spills over into unnecessary legal battles that tax our judicial system and public resources.

“These numerous litigations, in which the commission often finds itself joined as a party, divert our attention from our primary mandate: to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.

“As the guardians of our electoral process, we are compelled to address these issues not just for the sake of our institution but for the greater good of our democracy.

“The implications of these squabbles are far-reaching. They create an environment of uncertainty for party members and supporters, erode public trust in the political system, and undermine the democratic process that we all hold dear.

“Each litigation not only consumes time and resources but also distracts from the important work of mobilising voters and engaging with the public on critical national issues,” he said.

Amupitan said that as an Independent body, INEC remained neutral but reminded all political parties that cohesive and transparent leadership remained essential for the health of our democracy.

“We urge party leaders to prioritise constructive dialogue over divisive disputes, to foster unity within their ranks, and to focus on policy development and community engagement rather than internal strife,” he said.

Source: NAN

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At the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, President Tinubu lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for the resounding success of their recent presidential and parliamentary elections, setting a high standard for the region.

“I urge all of us in the region to learn from this good democratic practice and prioritise our country’s national unity to ensure political stability of the region so that this manner of peaceful transition becomes the culture of democracy not only in West Africa but also in the entire Africa continent,” he stated.

“Despite the challenges of interrupted democratic governance in some West African countries, the region has continued to record democratic gains. Just a week ago, on December 7, 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections took place in Ghana, the second-largest democracy in our region.

“One of the leading candidates who happens to be the incumbent Vice President, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the leadership of the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat and accepted the outcome of the Presidential election by congratulating the President-elect, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama of National Democratic Congress (NDC) for his victory, even before the official announcement of the election results.

“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people of Ghana.”

President Tinubu praised President Akufo-Addo for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to ECOWAS during his two-year term, describing him as a formidable Pan-Africanist.

President Tinubu also congratulated the government and people of Senegal on their successful parliamentary elections.

He praised Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for painstakingly leading the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of the Reform.

READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu to inaugurate network of roads in Alimosho on Monday

He wished her a successful tenure in her new role as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

In his second term as ECOWAS Chair, President Tinubu highlighted achievements from his first term, including strides in regional integration, economic growth, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism efforts.

He said the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and Common External Tariff (CET) had strengthened trade and economic cooperation.

“Similarly, regional infrastructure projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the West Africa Power Pool, and modernising key border posts with advanced equipment and joint border operations utilising state-of-the-art technology have significantly enhanced connectivity and promoted greater regional integration.

“Furthermore, our efforts in stabilising our region through peacekeeping missions currently in the Gambia and Guinea Bissau, as well as previous operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, have demonstrated our capacity to act decisively in the face of adversity,” he said.

President Tinubu said the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism had provided a comprehensive framework to combat violent extremism and enhance regional security.

As ECOWAS nears its 50th anniversary in 2025, President Tinubu urged member states to recommit to the bloc’s founding ideals of economic integration, peace, and prosperity.

“As a regional community, we must maintain our fundamental responsibility: to protect our citizens and create an enabling environment where they can prosper.

“As leaders, we know that security is not a luxury but a necessity. Equally, enhancing the living standards of our people is not an aspiration but an obligation,” he said.

The Presidents of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal attended in person alongside the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Finance Minister of the Benin Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo, and the Ambassador of Cape Verde to Nigeria.

The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, commended Nigeria for paying 100 per cent of its community levy for 2023 and substantial remittances for 2024, reflecting Nigeria’s leadership and commitment under President Tinubu.

“For the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has paid 100% of its community levy from 2023.  I’m therefore pleased to announce that on Friday, December 13, 2024, Nigeria paid N85 billion and $54 million, representing 100% of the 2023 levy and the 2024 levy up to July 2024.

“We all agree that this payment underscores the leadership and commitment of President Tinubu, the government and the people of Nigeria to our community. At a more personal level, it represents confidence in the management I have been privileged to lead since 2022.”

He encouraged other member states to meet their financial commitments diligently.

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The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister said that tolling would not start until the roads were made motorable.

“The Ministry of Works and Housing presented a policy memorandum for the approval of federal roads and bridges tolling policy and also a regulation that will provide legal framework for the tolling policy.

“You will recall that about three years ago, you have asked severally here when roads will be tolled and I told you there is a lot of work.

“So, we have taken another step; let me be clear, tolls are not going to start tomorrow; so, let us just be clear about that; but the bid step to actual tolling was taken today by presenting for approval the broad policy that would guide tolling.

“So, that local people, states, local governments, all those who manage roads, investors who want to come in, will know what our tolling policy is.

“And that will form the basis of their financial modeling, their investments decision.

“When will they start? Tolls will not start until the roads are motorable; there will be agreements that have to be in place; negotiated with government through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.’’

Fashola presented some of the highlights that would be adopted in the tolling policy.

He said that an open tolling policy would be adopted as opposed to a closed tolling policy.

“The difference is that on the open tolling policy which is what we are used to before, you pay toll at barrier over a fixed or pre-determined distance.

“Closed tolls system means that you pay tolls over the distance you travel and the size of your vehicle; we have not that operated before; so, we are going back to what we know.

“We also approved that consultations must be done; willingness to pay; surveys must be done before specific roads are tolled.’’

He said that the council also approved that only dual carriage ways out the 35000 kilometres of road should be eligible for tolling by the federal government.

The minister said that the dual carriage ways represented only 5,050 kilometres out of 35, 000 kiliometres.

“We also got approval that the tolls will be used to maintain the roads; to construct new road as they accrue and also to pay the investors who invest in building or completing a road and then take a concession on it.’’

According to him, a process of largely electronic collection and management system for audit and transparency will be adopted.

He said, however, that there would be some cash payments at the very minimum; and hopefully, phased out as the process progressed.

Fashola said that it was proposed and council approved that certain types of vehicles be exempted from paying tolls.

“Those are bicycles, pedal cycles, tricycles, motorcycles and that modes of two or three wheeled transport used mainly by disadvantaged members of our community.

“They will be entitled to full 100 per cent exemption as we will diplomatic vehicles, military and paramilitary vehicles,’’ he said.

Dr Mohammed Abubakar, the Minister of Environment, said he presented a memo seeking for the ratification of an anticipatory approval received from the president, on the submission of the Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC.

He said it was part of the commitment that Nigeria made in 2016 during the Paris Agreement; that every country, after five years, would revise the commitment the country made in cutting down emission.

“So, at the time we committed to reducing emission by 20 per cent unconditionally, meaning we can do it by ourselves; that is by 2020.

“The 20 per cent is by the year 2020; at the same time, we are also committed to reducing 45 per cent by 2030; that’s again from the year 2016,’’ he said.

On his part, Sale Mamman, Minister of Power, said that FEC approved four contracts for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

He listed the contracts as the supply and installation of motorised portable hydraulic compressor for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, and supply and delivery of three sets of online partial discharge measurement and monitoring equipment for the TCN.

Others are repairs of 100 MVA and four sets of 60 MVA 132 33 power transformers for TCN and for the procurement of 10 sets of 330 KV and 30 sets of 133 KV circuit breaker for the TCN.

Source: NAN

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Incumbent Nana Addo Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, will face former president John Dramani Mahama, leader of the National Democratic Congress, NDC.

It is the third time Akufo-Addo and Mahama will compete against each other for the highest office, with each previously having won one poll – Akufo-Addo in 2016 and Mahama in 2012.

Although 12 candidates are vying for the presidency, including two women, only Akufo-Addo and Mahama are said to have a chance of coming out victorious.

The electoral campaign has been dominated by Ghana’s economy, infrastructure development, education, corruption, and debt relief.

Akufo-Addo, 76, has been touting economic growth during his current four-year term in office as well as the streamlining of government services and implementation of free schooling for senior high school pupils.

Mahama, 62, has meanwhile stressed the many infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, he realised during his presidency, promising do invest more in this area if re-elected.

Political analysts of the University of Ghana in the capital, Accra, predict a slim win for Akufo-Addo in the December elections.

Polls have indicated voters prefer Akufo-Addo’s policy-driven approach to running the nation of 30 million people, the university’s head of the political science department, Kaakyire Frempong, told dpa.

A candidate needs to gain at least 50 per cent of votes to be elected in the first round.

Ghana’s roughly 17 million registered voters will also elect 275 legislators from 914 candidates on December 7.

Akufo-Addo’s NPP is expected to once again gain the majority of seats in parliament.

Voting will take place at more than 33,000 polling stations between 7 am and 5 pm (0700 and 1700 GMT).

The electoral commission will announce results within 72 hours after the election.

Source: NAN

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In a statement issued by the Presidency in Accra, he said: “I have directed that all national flags should fly at half mast for the next seven days in all parts of the country and I have declared seven days of national mourning from Friday 13th November 2020.”

President Akufo-Addo said it was with great sadness that he was announcing to the nation that the first president of the Fourth Republic, Jerry John Rawlings, had “joined his ancestors.”

He said the tragic event occurred at 10.10 am (GMT) on Thursday at the Korle bu Teaching Hospital in Accra where the former president was receiving treatment after a short illness.

“I convey the deep sympathies of the government and the people of Ghana to his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the children and the family of the late president in these difficult times.”

He said in honour of the memory of the former president, he and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia had suspended their political campaign for the same period.

Ghana is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7.

The statement said the government would work closely with the family of the late president on the arrangements for “a fitting funeral” for him.

“A great tree has fallen, Ghana is poorer for this loss,” he said.

Meanwhile, the family of the former president is asking for privacy as it mourns him.

“The family requests privacy at this difficult moment,” his eldest child, Dr. Ezanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, said in a statement in Accra.

Reports from Accra said hundreds of people have been pouring into his house in tears as the shocking news spread.

Rawlings, 73, a former Flight Lieutenant and fighter pilot, was born on 22 June 1947.

He burst onto the Ghanaian political scene when he was arrested and tried for mutiny in May 1979.

At that trial, Rawlings, who was a fighter pilot, defended himself by criticising the military leadership at the time and widespread corruption.

This won him many admirers and he was sprung from jail on June 4 by junior officers and other ranks to lead an uprising that they called “house cleaning exercise”.

Three former military leaders were executed during the period which is regarded as the bloodiest in Ghana’s history.

He handed over to a civilian government in September 1979 but staged another coup on December 31, 1981 and ruled as a military leader until 1993 when he was sworn in as a civilian president after winning multi-party election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which he formed.

He served two terms as the democratically elected President of Ghana from January 7, 1993 to January 7, 2001 when he handed over to John Agyekum Kufuor, whose New Patriotic Party, NPP, won the election in December 2000.

Source: PANA/NAN

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