Namibia elects Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president

Published

1 year ago

December 4, 2024

182 Views

Namibia has elected Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as its first female president following a disputed election.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, would become the first woman to rule the southern African country governed by the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) since independence in 1990.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) announced that she won with over 57 percent of ballots cast.

Panduleni Itula, candidate for the main opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), polled second with 25.5 percent of the votes.

The presidential election was extended twice because of logistical and technical challenges which led to a shortage of ballot papers and long queues.

Some voters gave up on the first day of voting after waiting for up to 12 hours.

The IPC said the extension of voting was a deliberate attempt to frustrate voters, adding that it would not accept the results of the poll.

Itula said there was a “multitude of irregularities”, adding that “the IPC shall not recognise the outcome of that election”.

He added that the IPC would “fight to nullify the elections through the processes that are established within our electoral process”.

An organisation of southern African human rights lawyers serving as election monitors said the delays at polling units were intentional and widespread.

The electoral authority admitted to failures in the conduct of the election, including a shortage of ballot papers and the overheating of electronic tablets used to register voters.

BREAKING: KWAM1 goes to court to challenge Awujale selection process

Published

5 hours ago

December 18, 2025

OCHEFA

28 Views

• King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall

Alleged N2.2bn fraud: Ngige gets bail, trials continue on January 28

The EFCC alleges that Ngige used his ministerial position between 2015 and 2023 to award contracts unfairly, divert funds, and enrich himself and associates.

Published

8 hours ago

December 18, 2025

OCHEFA

42 Views

‎Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been granted bail by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwarimpa.

He faces eight counts of charges bordering on abuse of office, contract fraud, and acceptance of kickbacks from contractors linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.‎

‎In Thursday’s ruling, Justice Maryam Hassan adopted the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC.

The court ordered Ngige to produce a surety who must be a serving Federal Government director.

The surety is required to deposit travel documents with the court registrar, as Ngige claims his passport was lost.‎‎

The surety must also present landed property with a valid certificate of occupancy within the Federal Capital Territory.‎‎

The EFCC alleges that Ngige used his ministerial position between 2015 and 2023 to award contracts unfairly, divert funds, and enrich himself and associates.

The trial is scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026.‎‎

BREAKING: Senate Confirms Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Others as Ambassadors

Published

10 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Charles Flames

49 Views

#The Nigerian Senate has confirmed a list of high-profile non-career ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, including former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, social media influencer and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and ex-Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK).

The confirmations followed screenings by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which cleared the nominees amid some procedural debates but ultimately recommended their approval.

Other prominent figures confirmed include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and several former senators and political allies.

The approvals form part of a broader diplomatic restructuring by the Tinubu administration, with the nominees expected to be deployed to key missions abroad to strengthen Nigeria’s international relations.

Sources indicate that the list, which includes a mix of career and non-career diplomats totaling around 68, addresses long-standing vacancies in Nigeria’s foreign missions.

The nominations had sparked public debate earlier, with critics questioning the inclusion of politically controversial figures, while supporters highlighted their experience in public service and loyalty to national interests.

The confirmed ambassadors-designate will receive their specific postings after formal letters of credence from the president.

This development marks a significant step in revitalizing Nigeria’s diplomatic presence globally.