Africa’s Democracy Under Threat – CDD

• The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD West Africa) warned of threats to African democracy, including military coups and electoral fraud
• Director Idayat Hassan emphasized the importance of strengthening democracy, inclusivity, and empowering the next generation in Africa

The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD West Africa) has warned that African democracy is under threat.

Idayat Hassan, Director of CDD West Africa, stated yesterday in a statement commemorating this year’s International Day of Democracy that democracy in Africa faces a number of challenges, including military coups, electoral fraud, and dissent suppression.

While urging an urgent strengthening of democracy and inclusivity in Africa, Hassan stated that this year’s theme, ‘Empowering the Next Generation,’ highlights the critical role that young people play in advancing democracy and emphasizes the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for all to participate in democratic processes.

As we mark this occasion, we reflect on recent elections in Gabon, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria where citizens exercised their right to vote. While these elections are a testament to the enduring spirit of democracy, they were not without their challenges.

For example, in Nigeria the opposition went to court to contest the victory of the incumbent party while in Gabon, the military seized power claiming irregularities in the electoral process, she said.

She noted that when democratic institutions are abused and disregarded, people find other means to seek legitimacy and they are often “unconstitutional, rash, and unsustainable.”

CDD will continue to caution that a military takeover of the political and governance spaces would never be the solution to the challenges facing democratic governance and development on the African continent, she said.

No more hiding place for criminals in Bauchi — Gov Bala

Bauchi Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad has declared war against banditry, kidnapping, and every form of criminalities across the State.

The Governor who read the riot act on the activities of criminals in the state, declared that, henceforth, “there is no hiding place for criminals and bandits anywhere in the State.”

Bala Mohammed was speaking Saturday evening when he paid a sympathy visit to Yelwan-Duguri in Alkaleri LGA where the 37 kidnapped victims are residing for the main time before they will be reunited with their families.

The Governor was accompanied on the sympathy visit by the State Commissioner of Police, Awal Musa Mohammed and other Heads of Security agencies operating in the State.