Human Rights Watch said Monday that there is a "thick veil of violence" surrounding elections scheduled to take place in Nigeria later this month. The violence "undermines people's fundamental right to vote," said Anietie Ewang, HRW's Nigerian researcher, who called on Nigerian officials to install secure systems that would allow Nigerians to vote safely. "It is important for the authorities to swiftly restore public confidence in their ability to hold those responsible for electoral violence accountable and ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians," Ewang said in a statement. In the capital city of Imo state, Owerri, where violent…

A loud whir filled the back of a print shop in Nigeria's capital Abuja as machines churn out grinning faces of presidential election frontrunners on posters, flyers and food packaging. Workers poured cassava flour into blue and green bags sporting the governing All Progressives Congress party's acronym and stashed them next to a pile of red and green opposition rice packets. The advertising campaign season is in full throttle. The run-up to a vote is usually a chance for small businesses like Shimatex Prints to cash in on election paraphernalia ranging from hats and flip-flops to tissue boxes and cooking…

In a split judgment of three to two justices, the Supreme Court on Monday declared Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25 Senatorial election for Yobe North Senatorial District. The majority decision delivered by Centus Nweze, made the declaration after setting aside both the decisions of the Court of Appeal and trial court which earlier affirmed Bashir Machina as candidate. According to Nweze, the lower courts lacked the necessary jurisdiction to hear the suits because it was commenced by originating summons, adding that the dispute in the case was one that cannot…

Naj’atu Muhammad, a former senatorial candidate, says Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, is a member of the “cabal” manipulating governance in the country. Last week, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, alleged that there are “elements” in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration working against the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming elections. A few hours after, Aisha shared the video clip of the interview on her Instagram page, which many believed to be a demonstration of her support for the claims by the Kaduna governor. The president’s wife had, on several occasions, publicly complained about fifth columnists…