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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.
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 44 (April 28 – May 4, 2025)
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The world is abuzz with breaking news, and the 44th edition of Diaspora Watch is your passport to the most critical global developments. From the hallowed halls of the Vatican to the bustling streets of Geneva, our spotlight shines bright on the stories that matter most.
Witness the high-stakes diplomatic dance between the US and Iran, as they hold new talks in Oman amid a push for a nuclear deal. Meanwhile, in Rome, hundreds of thousands pay their respects to Pope Francis, while Trump and Zelensky hold a pivotal meeting at the Vatican.
In Sudan, the crisis deepens as displaced people resort to eating leaves and charcoal to survive. The world watches with bated breath as the situation unfolds.
California has overtaken Japan as the world’s fourth-largest economy, while the threat of crypto investment scams looms large, with $5.8 billion lost in 2024 alone.
Oluwatobiloba Amusan returns to action in the Xiamen Diamond League, and the world waits with anticipation for the selection of a new Pope. Who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church?
The Caribbean Investment Summit in Antigua brings together leaders and investors, while Qatar’s aviation scholarships and training opportunities are a beacon of hope for CARICOM citizens.
These and many more are for your reading pleasure. Dive into the 44th edition of Diaspora Watch and stay informed about the stories shaping our world.
Top negotiators from the United States and Iran are set to meet again in Oman on Saturday, aiming to make progress towards a new agreement that would curb Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
The meeting will involve Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who will negotiate indirectly through Omani mediators.
The talks follow a productive round of discussions in Rome last week, which both sides described as constructive.
The new discussions are expected to begin at expert level, with the aim of setting the stage for direct talks between the two lead negotiators.
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in securing a deal, saying: “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran.”
However, significant differences remain over the nuclear dispute, which has persisted for over two decades.
The US has withdrawn from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers and imposed a stringent “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran, reimposing crippling sanctions. In response, Iran has breached the terms of the pact, particularly in its nuclear activities.
Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment, reaching up to 60% purity, a significant step towards the 90% purity required for weapons-grade uranium.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that a new deal would require Iran to cease all uranium enrichment and import any enriched uranium it needs for its Bushehr nuclear power plant.
However, Tehran is unwilling to make such concessions, insisting that ending its enrichment programme or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpiles are “red lines” that cannot be crossed.
Iranian officials have stated that their country will consider negotiating some limits on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
The talks have also highlighted concerns over Iran’s missile programme, which Tehran insists is non-negotiable.
An Iranian official said that Tehran views its missile programme as an even greater obstacle to reaching an agreement than its nuclear work.
The outcome of these talks will have significant implications for regional and global security, and it remains to be seen whether the two sides can find common ground.
A successful deal would not only benefit the two countries but also contribute to regional and global stability.
Prime Minister of Grenada, Honourable Dickon Mitchell, attended the 2025 Caribbean Investment Summit (CIS25) in Antigua and Barbuda.
The summit, themed “Integrity. Stability. Sustainability — CBI Pathway to Economic Prosperity,” provided a platform for regional leaders to discuss investment strategies and economic development.
During the Stakeholder Impact Session, “Adapting to the New Regulatory Era,” the Prime Minister engaged with other Caribbean leaders, Heads of Citizenship by Investment Units (CIUs), and senior officials on strengthening the region’s investment ecosystem.
The session focused on advancing the summit’s core pillars of integrity, stability, sustainability, and economic prosperity.
A closed-door meeting followed, where Prime Ministers, CIU Heads, and the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) deliberated on regional investment and development strategies.
The summit aimed to foster collaboration and drive economic growth in the Caribbean region.
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 44
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