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The last absolute monarchy in Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini, will hold parliamentary elections on Friday, with political parties banned from contesting.

The constitution emphasises “individual merit” as the basis for selecting lawmakers, who cannot be affiliated with any political group. Being in the good graces of King Mswati III, who wields absolute power, also carries much weight.

About 585,000 registered voters will be called to choose 59 members of the lower house of parliament, which plays only an advisory role to the monarch. Mswati, who can veto any legislation, will directly appoint another 10 lawmakers.

With most candidates loyal to the king, the election is unlikely to change the political scenery in the kingdom formerly known as Swaziland.

Only about a dozen of those nominated during primaries last month are known to have ties to the opposition.

Many do not say which side they are on, fearing repression.

“Democracy is not that much practised around here,” Thantaza Silolo, spokesperson for the largest opposition group, the Swaziland Liberation Movement (Swalimo), told AFP.

eSwatini elections in 2018An election official from the Eswatini Elections and Boundaries Commission checks the ID of a voter during parliamentary elections on September 21, 2018 [Gianlugi Guercia/AFP]Political parties have unclear status and cannot directly take part in the vote.They were effectively banned in 1973, but a new constitution in 2005 provided an opening allowing for freedom of association. Still, in practice, there is no legal avenue for them to register, according to democracy watchdog Freedom House. Swalimo is incorporated as a non-profit.

The People’s United Democratic Movement, one of the largest opposition movements, has been declared a “terrorist” organisation and banned.

Two opposition lawmakers elected in the last vote in 2018 are currently in jail. A third is in exile.
Most opposition groupings have called for a boycott. Three have told voters to go to the polls.
Few political gatherings have taken place during a two-week campaigning period.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT) and close at 6pm, according to the electoral commission, with results expected over the weekend.

The mountainous country of 1.2 million people is landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique. About half the size of Belgium, it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.

Mswati, 55, ascended to the throne at the age of 18 and has ruled with an iron fist for 37 years.
The king is constitutionally above the law.

He appoints the prime minister and the cabinet, can dissolve parliament and the government and commands the Police and the army.

Shows of dissent are rare, but in 2021 the kingdom was shaken by pro-democracy protests.

Dozens of people were killed as security forces violently quashed demonstrations calling for reforms. A curfew was imposed, demonstrations banned and internet access curbed.

Protests have continued sporadically after the crackdown.

Earlier this year, human rights lawyer and government critic Thulani Maseko was shot dead through the window of his home. Hours before his murder, the king had warned activists who defy him not to “shed tears” about “mercenaries killing them”.

The United Nations has called for an independent investigation.

Known as Ngwenyama, “the lion” in SiSwati, the king has been widely criticised for his lavish lifestyle, while nearly 60 percent of the population lives on less than $1.90 a day.

The plump monarch, who usually appears in public wearing traditional clothes, is known to love luxury cars and watches. He spends millions of dollars a year on his 15 wives, some of whom he married when they were minors and has at least 25 children.

To mark the 50th anniversary of independence, in 2018 he changed the country’s name to Eswatini – meaning land of the Swazis.

Eswatini has one of the highest prevalences of HIV in the world with about 26 percent of adults aged 15 to 49 living with the AIDS-causing virus in 2022, according to UN figures.

South Africa’s EFF leads peaceful protests at Eswatini bordersSince last May, there has been civil unrest and protests in Eswatini, one of the world’s last remaining monarchies.

The impeached Ijebu East Local Government Area chairman, Wale Adedayo, was charged by Ogun State police on Tuesday before a magistrate court sitting in the Isabbo neighborhood of Abeokuta.

Adedayo was charged with two charges related to the dissemination of an unlawful publication and a false claim of fund misappropriation by Governor Dapo Abiodun before Justice A.K. Araba.

Adeyemi Olukoya, the prosecutor, informed the court that Adedayo committed offenses that violated and were punished by sections 59(1) and 375 of the Ogun State Criminal Code Laws of 2006.

The charge read, “That you Hon. Wale Adedayo m’ on the 27h August 2023 at Abeakuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial Districtrict did unlawfully publish a circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former Governor of Ogun State and Elder stateman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present Governor of Ogun state; Prince Dapo Abiodun ‘m’ hijacking Local Government funds which you knew was false allegation and likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public pcace, knowing or having reason to believe that such statement is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 59(1) of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.

“That you Hon. Wale Adedayo ‘m’ on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully publish a circular to the public, a letter addressed to the former Governor of Ogun State and Elder Stateman, Aremo Olusegun Osoba ‘m’ in which you accused the present Governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapa Abiodun ‘m’ hijacking Local Government fund (ten per cent (10%) of Internally Generated Revenue which the Constitution stipulate should go to the Local Governments) since May 2019 which you knew was a false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the Governor by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or to damage him in the discharge of his office and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code laws of Ogun State, 2006.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the counts.

In her judgment, Araba granted the defendant bail to the tune of N2m and required two “responsible and reliable sureties” residing within the court’s jurisdiction, possessing landed property with tax clearance. The case was adjourned till October 20, 2023, for further hearing.

Adedayo had on Monday announced on his Facebook page that he had been arrested by men of the Ogun state police force.
The post read, “Son of man is being taken to Ogun State Police CID at Eleweran, Abeokuta. They claim the State Government wrote a petition against me. If it is death, I follow the path of the Patriarchs. Ase di owo Olodumare!”

It was reported that the Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Wale Adedayo, has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting the statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s Local Governments in the last two years.

Adedayo, in a letter written to former Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on August 29, 2023, and obtained by our correspondent alleged that over N10.8bn fund of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme was also diverted by the governor.

Adedayo said that the governor also misappropriated approximately N10.8 billion from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme in a letter he sent to the former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on August 29, 2023.

The head of the local government claimed that since Abiodun allegedly took office, the 10% of state internally generated revenue that the constitution also mandated should go to the local government has not been provided.

On August 30, 2023, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, responded by denying the claim that he had diverted the statutory federal allocation owed to the state’s local governments during the previous two years.

The governor claimed that in order for the council chairmen to fulfill their duties, his administration would have to increase the monies given to local governments in the state.

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu begged United States District Judge Nancy Maldonado to order Chicago State University to protect his confidential information, such as his admission records, transcripts, and gender, and to only release his certificate to the legal team of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Christopher Carmichael, the president’s attorney, submitted the motion and emphasized that Tinubu’s alma school had “already clearly and unequivocally established” the “most critical fact.”

It was previously reported that Tinubu’s academic records would be made available to Atiku’s legal team after the politician obtained an injunction from US court Jeffrey Gilbert.

The records of Tinubu’s application and admittance to CSU, dates of attendance, degrees, honors, and prizes received at the university, among other things, are among the documents that Atiku is requesting through his attorney, Angela Liu.

Last Thursday, as Gilbert’s deadline drew nearer, Tinubu’s attorneys approached Maldonado and argued that Gilbert’s earlier ruling needed to be reviewed by a district judge.

The US district judge ultimately agreed to the request for a review and a postponement of the ruling until Monday.

However, the president’s legal team urged with Maldonado on Monday to withhold Tinubu’s other confidential data and merely provide the certificate.

The motion filed by the lawyer partly read, “The most critical fact has already been clearly and unequivocally established by Chicago State University: Intervenor was awarded the degree as he stated. This point is irrelevant to the applicant because he is not seeking anything more than opposition research on a political opponent.

“The magistrate judge clearly erred in granting the application for discovery and concluding that Chicago State University must respond to the document and deposition subpoenas. That conclusion should be set aside and the application should be denied because the information sought cannot be used and therefore is not ‘for use’ in the foreign proceedings.

“Even if a narrow subset of information can be considered ‘for use’ in the foreign proceeding, that is limited to the diploma submitted to INEC. Fishing expeditions into other documents and more document productions must be precluded.”

On Tuesday, the Ogun State government announced that it will not be commemorating the 63rd Independence Day as originally planned on October 1st.

This, according to a statement from Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, Secretary to the State Government, was in line with the federal government’s order to hold a low-key celebration this year.

According to the statement, the Federal Government decided to hold a low-key celebration to represent the spirit of the country and encouraged residents of the state to spend the time earnestly praying for the nation.

The statement partly reads, “Following the directive of the Federal Government that this year’s Independence Day Celebration should be low-key, the Ogun State Government has cancelled all arrangements in respect of the anniversary on October 1st, 2023.

“The decision by the federal government is to reflect the mood of the nation. The state government enjoins citizens of the state to spend the time solemnly praying for the country.

“It is the strong belief of the government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun that the supplications of the people at this crucial time will be answered by God.

“We seek the understanding and cooperation of all and sundry as we observe a low-key independence anniversary this year, believing that better times lie ahead of us as a people”.

The Lagos Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Monday, dismissed the petitions brought by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party, and Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor of the People’s Democratic Party, challenging the victory of Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 governorship election.

Jandor had contested the results of the March 18 governorship election in Lagos state, challenging the victory of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

Justice Mikhail Abdullah announced the decision while delivering judgment on the objections raised by the respondents in the case.

Details later…

Mali’s ruling junta on Monday announced it would delay a presidential election scheduled for February that was aimed at returning civilian leaders to power in the jihadist-hit West African nation.
The two rounds — initially set for February 4 and 18, 2024 — “will be slightly postponed for technical reasons”, government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga told reporters.
Those reasons include issues linked to the adoption this year of a new constitution and a review of the electoral lists, he said.
He also cited a dispute with the French company Idemia, which the junta says is involved in the census process.
“The new dates for the presidential election will be communicated later,” Maiga said.
AFP.

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare on Sunday said the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad may have reaped the reward of his actions while alive.

Bakare, who spoke while preaching in Leicester, United Kingdom at the 2nd anniversary of The Envoy Nation said the late MohBad was associating with evil people while he was alive.

Speaking on the theme ‘Harvest’, the former presidential aspirant said “My wife and I listened to a tape last night on MohBad. How many of you know MohBad? The Nigerian artiste who died at 27? MohBad”.

“When he was drinking and smoking and associating with evil men, he did not know that the harvest would come so soon and that he would soon be cut down at the prime of youth”.

“I am not blaming him, I am just telling you. Is MohBad a good name? Moh Bad”.

“There was a young man older than I am. He was a driver and his nickname was Eshu (devil).

Everywhere he went, people hailed him as Eshu and he will acknowledge them”.

“The day he crashed the car and he killed people and they threw him behind jail when he was brought out, he said ‘Mee Sheshu Mee Shushu’ (I Am not the devil)”.

Renowned Nigerian actor and filmmaker Charles Granville has sadly passed away following a prolonged illness.

Granville, who served as chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Arts and Entertainment, passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Prior to his untimely demise, the multi-talented artist excelled in various fields. He was not only an actor but also a songwriter, musician, and filmmaker.

His impressive filmography includes notable projects such as ‘Last Flight To Abuja,’ ‘Impossible Relationships,’ ‘Dowry Man,’ and the yet-to-be-released film ‘Locked’.

An explosion at an illegal fuel depot in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin, has killed 34 people.

A government official confirmed the incident to newsmen today, Saturday.

The government official said no fewer than 34 people were killed when a contraband fuel dump burst into flames in southern Benin near the border with Nigeria.

“A serious fire occurred in the town of Seme Podji,” Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou told reporters.

“Unfortunately we have 34 deaths including two babies. Their bodies are charred because the cause of the fire is smuggled fuel.”

The minister said another 20 people were being treated in hospital, including some in a serious condition.

Nigeria is a major oil and gas producer and fuel smuggling is common along its borders, especially when the government maintains a subsidy to keep petrol prices low.

Over 9,300 tonnes of WFP cargo, including specialised foods for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition, are still blocked between the port of Lomé in Togo and the border of Benin.

This cargo should be headed for Niger and Burkina Faso.

According to the WFP, the sudden move affected 90,000 children in early September, but the figure could rise to 160,000 by October unless the borders are opened.

Jean-Noel Gentile, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in Niger said this should not be the case at all.

He said: We cannot allow the children of Niger to be cut off from such a critical nutritional lifeline. To prevent a severe nutritional crisis, supplies must reach the country. If they do not, the consequences will be measured in serious infections and preventable deaths.

Following the political turmoil, according to recent market monitoring by WFP and its partners, the average price of rice and sorghum in the nation jumped by 21%.

Just before the coup, the second-greatest levels of acute hunger since assessments began in 2012 were experienced by 3.3 million people, about 13% of the population.

Particularly concerning is the frightening nutritional situation in hard-to-reach places like northern Tahoua, northern Tillabéry, and some towns in the Dosso region.

Therefore, the high cost of living for families already facing climate change-induced food shortages, food inflation, and a beat-down economy is making the situation worse.

“This situation has forced WFP to suspend supplementary feeding to 90 000 moderately malnourished children in Tahoua, Maradi and Zinder, starting in early September,” the WFP said.

“The suspension of WFP’s nutritional support is likely to exacerbate child malnutrition in a country where vulnerable families already struggle to access nutritious foods due to seasonal shortages, rising food prices, and low purchasing power during the lean season and pre-harvest periods.”

Niger’s economy loses an estimated 289 billion CFA francs ($539 million or R10 billion) a year owing to child malnutrition, and one in every two children under five who die there have experienced some type of malnutrition, according to figures from the national statistics institute of Niger.

Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown and imprisoned by the country’s presidential guard on 26 July 2023. Shortly after the coup, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Presidential Guard’s commander, proclaimed himself the leader of a military junta.