From the surrealism of ‘missing president’ Umaru Yar’Adua, linked to the outside world via a ghostly voiced interview with the BBC, and with attendant disputes of legitimacy and sovereignty, Nigeria has solved the crisis in its own way, by effecting what some call a ‘democratic coup’. One by one, the elected institutions of state (the powerful governors’ forum and both houses of the National Assembly) and several non-elected regional councils met and agreed to support the handover to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Whatever the constitutional doubts that remain, the 9 February resolution by the National Assembly, citing the ‘doctrine of necessity’, to recognise Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President was...
With his party winning new ground in state elections, the opposition presidential candidate alleges systematic voter fraud
Promising to call evidence from forensic scientists, statisticians and psephologists, the People's Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar filed his petition challenging the official results of the 23...
Ambitious plans for a competitive oil industry still have to
beat graft and political infighting
Near the top of the list for President Bill Clinton's trip to Nigeria in June are the Abuja government's plans for a huge expansion of the oil industry,...
After xenophobic attacks and corporate rivalries, the leaders of Africa’s two biggest economies are to meet next month
For pan-African economic alliances and security cooperation much is riding on the summit between Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Muhammadu Buhari, due to hold on 3 October in South...
Five years after it was launched, the fund intended to help the Ogoni people has yet to disburse any money
In March last year Africa Confidential reported that disagreements among the trustees over the Kiisi ('progress' in Ogoni) Trust had prevented any disbursements.
