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Nigeria’s Electoral System In Need Of Urgent Reform, Says Senator Seriake Dickson
Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has expressed the need to sanitize Nigeria’s electoral system, citing the growing number of election-related litigation and the erosion of public trust.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, monitored by Diaspora Watch in Nigeria, Dickson disclosed that the National Assembly has started moves to amend the electoral law.
“First of all, the electoral law is important, and we have started, I mean the electoral amendment committee. We are undertaking a comprehensive review once again of the electoral law to underpin the conduct of free and fair elections, to reduce litigation, contest, challenges, and disaffection as you saw now even in the Supreme Court venue, people not accepting the verdict of the Supreme Court.”
Dickson also called for the introduction of electronic voting to reduce human interference, which he believes gives rise to manipulation. “What we need to work towards in this country, in a nutshell, and we are trying to build a consensus in the National Assembly, I don’t know whether we will succeed, but we are making some progress, is how we can have electronic voting where you will reduce human interference that gives rise to manipulation, inducement, intimidation, and all of that.”
He lamented that the Federal Government under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not built on the progress made in the use of technology in Nigeria’s elections in the last eight years. “In the party in government, they haven’t really shown that desire to see that we sanitize the electoral process, and most importantly now at the level of national leadership, to put the interest of the country above their personal interest and the interest of their party by actively promoting and supporting the application of technology.”
Read also : Labour Party’s UK Victory A Boost For Nigeria’s LP Ahead Of 2027 Elections
Dickson also endorsed the call by the Patriots, led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, for a national constituent assembly to produce a new draft constitution for the country. “It is a national imperative, it is the kind of constitution we have that has reduced our capacity to be productive. It is the nature of the constitution that has given rise to the ineffective grassroots administrative system, the local government system that we have.” He added that it is the constitution that has created the situation that has resulted in having an over-bloated and overloaded centre.
Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting
Two students were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday, police said.
Authorities have detained a person of interest in his 20s, who is now cooperating with investigators.
The attack occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT) at the Holley Engineering Building on the eastern end of the university campus.
Police said the identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all those affected, including the deceased, were students.
In a statement on Sunday, Paxson said parts of the campus remained restricted as police continued investigations.
She added that around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight and expressed gratitude to local residents who opened their homes to students.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said seven of the injured students were in stable condition, one was critical, and another had been discharged.
The mayor, who visited victims and their families in hospital, described their courage as “overwhelming” and confirmed that the shelter-in-place order issued earlier had been lifted.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the suspect was detained at a hotel in Coventry early Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.
Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that officers were no longer searching for additional suspects and were working closely with prosecutors to collect evidence.
President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, expressed sympathy for the families of the two deceased students and wished a speedy recovery for the nine injured.
The shooting brings the number of mass shootings in the United States in 2025 to 389, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents with four or more victims killed or injured, not including the attacker.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant as the investigation continues, while a vigil is scheduled for Sunday evening to support the Brown University community.
Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Saturday left 15 people dead, including a child aged 10, during a Hanukkah celebration. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack.
Police confirmed the shooters were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son.
The father died at the scene, while the son remains in critical condition.
The 50-year-old was a licensed firearms holder; six guns and two improvised devices were recovered from the site.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “an act of pure evil”, saying it deliberately targeted the Jewish community, and promised full resources to support the investigation and combat antisemitism.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said quick response, informed by last year’s Bondi stabbing, helped save lives.
328 officers have been deployed to protect Sydney’s Jewish community, while two properties in western Sydney were searched overnight.
Among the victims was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Eyewitnesses described the chaos, with some saying the gunfire felt like it lasted “an eternity.”
Authorities continue to investigate the attack as Australians reel from the tragedy.
Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria
President Donald Trump has pledged a “very serious retaliation” after an ambush in central Syria on Saturday, killing two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter, an attack the United States blames on the Islamic State (ISIS) group.
In a statement and social‑media post, Trump described the assault near Palmyra—a region still volatile and not fully controlled by the Syrian government—as “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria.”
He mourned the three victims as “great American patriots” and confirmed that three other U.S. soldiers wounded in the attack are recovering.
Speaking from the White House before departing for a public event, the president said he expected a firm U.S. response, noting that there will be “very serious retaliation” against ISIS and any group that targets American forces.
Trump noted that Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whose government has been cooperating with U.S. forces in counter‑terrorism operations, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident.
The ambush occurred as U.S. troops were engaged in a counter‑terrorism mission alongside Syrian partners; the suspected attacker was killed by coalition forces, U.S. Central Command said.
The identities and units of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification.
Defense officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, echoed Trump’s stance, issuing stark warnings that the U.S. will pursue individuals or groups that target Americans.
The U.S. maintains a force of around 900 troops in Syria as part of ongoing operations against ISIS remnants, despite the group’s loss of territorial control years earlier.
The attack is the first fatal incident involving U.S. personnel in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, highlighting persistent security challenges and raising questions about the future scope of U.S. military engagement in the region.
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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting
Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting
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Diaspora Watch 20th Edition (October 14-20, 2024): Your Trusted Source for Global News and Insights
