INEC chief says Nigeria is ready for next month’s presidential election

INEC chief says Nigeria is ready for next month’s presidential election

It’s just 38 days until national elections in Nigeria, and Mahmood Yakubu, head of the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assured Tuesday that his organization is prepared to meet the challenge of managing 93.4 million registered voters as the February 25 elections move ahead as scheduled. Yakubu, speaking at…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Obiang elected to another 7 years in Equatorial Guinea

Obiang elected to another 7 years in Equatorial Guinea

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has been elected to another seven-year term in Equatorial Guinea, where the 80-year-old has held the office since August 1979. The National Electoral Board said Obiang received 405,910 votes, accounting for a notably high 94.9% of all votes cast in the West African nation. In reporting…

Ruto announced the winner in Kenya presidential election

Deputy President William Ruto, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, has won the presidential election in Kenya, following a close race against his main rival, Raila Odinga of the Azimio Coalition Political Party. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced results on Monday, using the full seven days permitted…

With no election results yet, Kenya’s IEBC calls for patience

Kenyans were still waiting for election results on Friday, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) urging citizens to reject disinformation about the results and trust the vote counting and reporting process. Officials with the IEBC reminded Kenyans that by law, there is a seven-day window in which to…

Barrow declared the victor in Gambian presidential election

Final results from Gambia’s presidential election were reported late Sunday, with incumbent Adama Barrow winning by a significant margin. “I am thankful for a historic victory for me and our great National People’s Party. Gambians have spoken and decided to deliver us a clear-cut, compelling victory,” said Barrow. He appealed…

Hichilema, USAID’s Power discuss Zambia’s future

Samantha Power, head of the USAID agency in the United States, pressed for Zambia’s commitment to democratic values during a congratulatory call to president-elect Hakainde Hichilema. Power and Hichilema also focused on Zambia’s fight against corruption, and the role of civil society in delivering a peaceful and credible election that…

Ethiopia confirms Abiy election win

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party have won the Ethiopian election by a landslide, according to official results released Saturday by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). The ruling party is expected to hold more than 400 of the country’s 546 legislative seats, giving Abiy the power…

Djibouti increases reliance on Beijing, but at what cost?

The long-time president of Djibouti, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, has launched his re-election campaign in the run-up to national elections on 9 April. With the exception of Zakaria Ismael Jafar, an “anti-system” independent candidate, Guelleh is set to run for his fifth term unopposed. His challengers in the 2016 election have…

Niger elections trigger violence, fatal explosion

Seven members of Niger’s Independent National Electoral Commission died Sunday when the vehicle they traveled in struck an improvised explosive device along a route near Waraou in the country’s troubled west. The explosion injured three others, according to an RFI report. It happened as Nigeriens went to the polls for…

UNHCR warns of humanitarian crisis in volatile C.A.R.

The elections last month in Central African Republic brought a fresh wave of political violence affecting more than 200,000 people who are now displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “The continuing volatility has hampered the humanitarian response and made access to the internally displaced more…

Museveni wins in Uganda, Wine remains under military guard

President Yoweri Museveni was named the winner of Uganda’s contentious presidential election on Saturday, with the country’s electoral commission confirming a 58.6 percent of the vote for the 76-year-old leader and his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Opposition leader Bobi Wine and the National Unity Platform (NUP) party secured…

Wine claims fraud in Uganda election, rejects reports of Museveni lead

Uganda’s electoral commission says it will report the results of Thursday’s presidential election within 48 hours, but tensions remained high Friday as President Yoweri Museveni seeks another much-disputed term and challenger Bobi Wine warns of continued arrests and interference. Wine, a member of parliament and activist musician with the real…