Archive for category: Politics

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, made the shocking revelation that she is stepping down while also announcing that the country will hold elections in October of this year.

Thursday, January 18, during the party’s annual caucus meeting, Ardern declared that she “no longer had enough in the tank” to carry out the duties.

During an emotional news conference, the 42-year-old, who was elected New Zealand’s prime leader in 2017, fought back tears.

She uttered: “It’s now. Being in such a privileged position comes with responsibilities, so I’m leaving. the duty to recognize when you are qualified to lead and when you are not I am aware of what this profession entails. And I understand that I’m running out of gas to do it justice. It’s that easy.”

She will no longer serve as a member of parliament as of February 7, but she will remain so until the year’s end election.

“Politicians are human, just as I am. For as long as we can, we offer everything we have. Then the time comes. And it’s time for me, “She spoke. Over the summer vacation, Ardern said she thought about whether or not she had the stamina to carry on in the position and came to the conclusion that she did not.

Abiodun Alabi, the commissioner of police for Lagos State, has urged the state’s political parties to abstain from using violence during the upcoming general election.

Alabi made the remarks on Tuesday, January 17, at a meeting of stakeholders on election security that the Lagos State Police Command had organized in the state’s Ikeja district.

The meeting of the state’s stakeholders included representatives from political parties, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the chiefs of the state’s security agencies.

“A free and fair election is the hallmark of democracy,” said Alabi. “We, as crucial participants in the provision of security during the polls, have the obligation to guarantee that it is done in a peaceful and orderly way devoid of rancor, malevolence, brigandage, and thuggery.

“To achieve this, we urge the leadership of all political parties to re-dedicate themselves to undertaking their campaigns and electoral activities within the dictates of the Electoral Act 2022.

“In the same vein, during this electoral process, the police request the political actors gathered here to pledge to denounce electoral violence, hate speech, and other negative tendencies before, during, and after the votes.”

Alabi warned political thugs, cultists and other troublemakers against disrupting the electoral process.

He said: “Parents should equally warn their children to be law-abiding because we won’t listen to anybody when we arrest any troublemaker.

“We want to assure you that no cultists or political thugs would be allowed in the state. We are going to ensure that no political party’s supporters would be intimidated in the state.”

Alabi added that political violence, hate speech, threats, political intolerance, misinformation, and political extremism are potent threats to democracy and national security.

He said: “I, therefore, challenge the leadership of political parties and candidates, who are critical gatekeepers of our democracy, to demonstrate purposeful and patriotic leadership that will guarantee a peaceful electoral process and to develop a culture of political tolerance and display of political maturity by allowing healthy competition among themselves.”

Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo state, has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, will receive enough protection for the planned distribution of permanent voter’s cards, or PVC, in the state.

When Uzodimma visited the Imo police command on the police shooting of three thugs who stormed INEC headquarters along the Port Harcourt route in Owerri early on Monday, he revealed this to reporters there.

The governor blamed the incident on local politicians who had vowed to rig the election and make Imo state unruly.

According to Uzodimma, “You can see why INEC, is the target if you collaborate it with the past where I have continuously said that what is happening in the Imo state is politically inclined and that Imo state will be ungovernable and there will be no election in Imo state.

“However, Security agencies are prepared. INEC is prepared and there will be an election in Nigeria. I was told the majority of them who came on this journey are lying critically ill, some are neutralised and others fled with gunshot injuries. The police are ever committed. The other sister agencies are also committed to ensuring security in the state.”

“My assurance is that we will have a very beautiful environment for Christmas God’s willing. Because in everything we do on this earth the will of God must prevail. This is a holy week. The period our lord Jesus Christ was born. The anointing and blessings bring peace in Imo.

“Also, we urge our people to come out and collect their PVC, there will be security agencies from the ward, local government areas to the state level. It will be a fruitful exercise. Let us remind our people that the collection of voters card is key and the government in collaboration with the security agencies will do our best, Uzodimma said.