Tag: electoral integrity

  • Ghana Recalls High Commissioner Over Alleged Electoral Misconduct

    Ghana Recalls High Commissioner Over Alleged Electoral Misconduct

    Reporting by Premium Times indicates that the Ghanaian Presidency has officially recalled Baba Ahmed, the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, with immediate effect. The decision, sanctioned by President John Mahama, follows allegations linking the diplomat to malpractices during Ghana’s parliamentary election primaries for the Ayawaso East Constituency.

    The Ghanaian government clarified that Mr. Ahmed, who was an aspirant in the primaries, was recalled to answer for his alleged role in compromising the electoral process while serving as a high-ranking public officer. This move is seen as a stern signal from Accra regarding the conduct of its diplomatic staff during domestic political transitions.

    The recall has sparked discussions within the West African diplomatic community about the boundaries of political participation for serving ambassadors. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to be formally notified as the Ghanaian mission in Abuja transitions to interim leadership.

    The story was also monitored by Channels TV and The Punch, which reported that “the recall is a rare but necessary step to maintain the integrity of Ghana’s democratic institutions.” The Sun Nigeria further quoted a source in Accra saying, “The Presidency will not tolerate any public officer using their position to influence internal party processes.”

    Echotitbits take: This recall highlights Ghana’s aggressive stance on electoral integrity, even at the cost of diplomatic continuity. It may temporarily slow down bilateral engagements between Abuja and Accra as a new envoy is vetted.

    Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/02/ghana-recalls-high-commissioner-to-nigeria-over-alleged-link-to-election-rigging/, February 8, 2026

    Photo credit: Vanguard

  • Court warns INEC chair against ignoring Labour Party-related FCT poll orders

    Court warns INEC chair against ignoring Labour Party-related FCT poll orders

    2026-01-01 07:20:00
    A report carried by The Nation says an FCT High Court warned INEC leadership against disregarding its earlier directives tied to Labour Party candidate processing for the FCT area council elections.

    The warning follows interim orders on portal access and candidate publication timelines, signalling possible contempt consequences if compliance is not met.

    At the core is a procedural dispute over whether INEC must grant the party digital credentials to submit candidates and publish their details as ordered.

    The Nigerian Observer also reported the court warned INEC against disregard of the order on Labour Party candidates.

    Punch earlier reported the underlying directive, stating the court ordered INEC to “grant the Labour Party an access code.”

    Echotitbits take:

    Candidate-list disputes can trigger legitimacy problems long before voting day. Watch for INEC’s documented compliance steps, and whether the matter escalates into contempt proceedings or further interim orders.

    Source: The Nation — January 1, 2026 (https://thenationonlineng.net/court-warns-inec-chair-against-disobeying-order-to-recognise-lps-candidates-for-fct-polls/amp/)

    The Nation 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: Punch