President Bola Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that his administration’s primary focus is on driving real change in areas like infrastructure, food and energy security, education, and economic stability, rather than personal gain.

Speaking during a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Tinubu made it clear that he is committed to working for the benefit of the country.

“I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me,” Tinubu remarked, reinforcing his dedication to serving the people.

By Uditha Jayasinghe and Sudipto Ganguly

COLOMBO (Reuters) -Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa headed to a run-off for Sri Lanka’s presidency on Sunday, the election body said, with a second round of counting to determine the winner using preferential votes.

It is the first time in Sri Lanka’s history that the presidential race is to be decided by a second round of counting after the top two candidates failed to win the mandatory 50% of votes to be declared winner.

All remaining candidates, including incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, have been disqualified, the Election Commission told reporters. Dissanayake polled 39.5% of the counted ballots with Premadasa finishing second at 34%.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the presidential candidate from National People’s Power, shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote at a polling station, on the day of the presidential election, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 21, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer
© Thomson Reuters

Wickremesinghe, who led the heavily indebted nation’s fragile economic recovery from a debilitating crisis in 2022, trailed in third with 17%.

This is Sri Lanka’s first election since the Indian Ocean nation’s economy buckled in 2022 under a severe foreign exchange shortage, leaving it unable to pay for imports of essentials including fuel, medicine and cooking gas. Protests forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee and later resign.

“The election result clearly shows the uprising that we witnessed in 2022 is not over,” said Pradeep Peiris, a political scientist at University of Colombo.

“People have voted in line with those aspirations to have different political practices and political institutions. AKD (as Dissanayake is known) reflects these aspirations and people have rallied around him.”

Dissanayake, 55, presented himself as the candidate of change for those reeling under austerity measures linked to a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund bailout, promising to dissolve parliament within 45 days of taking office for a fresh mandate for his policies in general elections.

Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote at a polling station, on the day of the presidential election, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 21, 2024. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
© Thomson Reuters

He has worried investors with a manifesto pledging to slash taxes in the island nation, which could impact IMF fiscal targets, and a $25 billion debt rework. But during the campaign, he took a more conciliatory approach, saying any changes would be undertaken in consultation with the IMF and that he was committed to ensuring repayment of debt.

Premadasa also pledged to renegotiate the contours of the IMF deal.

GRINDING POVERTY FOR MILLIONS

Buttressed by the IMF deal, Sri Lanka’s economy has posted a tentative recovery. It is expected to grow this year for the first time in three years and inflation has collapsed to 0.5% from a crisis peak of 70%.

But the continued high cost of living was a critical issue for many voters, and millions remain mired in poverty, with many pinning hopes of a better future on the next leader.

Voting was peaceful, although police declared a curfew across the island nation until noon (0630 GMT) as a precaution while vote counting continued.

About 75% of the 17 million eligible voters cast their ballots, according to the commission.

Dissanayake, known for stirring speeches, ran as a candidate for the National People’s Power alliance, which includes his Marxist-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna party. Traditionally, Dissanayake’s party has backed stronger state intervention, lower taxes and more closed market economic policies.

Election officials carrying ballot boxes walk at a counting center, after voting ended for the presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka September 21,2024.REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
© Thomson Reuters

Although JVP has just three seats in parliament, Dissanayake was boosted by his promises of tough anti-corruption measures and more pro-poor policies. He drew big crowds at rallies, calling on Sri Lankans to leave behind the suffering of the crisis.

Premadasa, 57, entered politics after his father, President Ranasinghe Premadasa, was killed in a suicide bombing in 1993. The younger Premadasa polled 42% of the votes in 2019 to finish second, behind Rajapaksa, in the last presidential election.

An election official carrying a ballot box walks at a counting center, after voting ended for the presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka September 21,2024.REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
© Thomson Reuters

Premadasa’s centre-left party has promised tax changes to reduce living costs. Support from farming communities in north and central Sri Lanka helped him close the gap on Dissanayake as counting progressed.

The winner will have to ensure Sri Lanka sticks with the IMF programme until 2027 to get its economy on a stable growth path, reassure markets, repay debt, attract investors and help a quarter of its people climb out of poverty.

(Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe and Sudipto Ganguly in Colombo; Editing by Matthew Lewis, William Mallard and Tom Hogue)

In a dramatic turn of events, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was forcefully removed from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Benin in the early hours of today. This incident unfolded after the governor stormed the INEC office to protest what he described as the manipulation of results from Saturday’s fiercely contested governorship election, which has tilted in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhollo.

The tension in Edo State reached its peak as Obaseki arrived at the commission’s state office shortly after preliminary results began to emerge, showing a strong lead for Okpebhollo. Sources revealed that the governor, frustrated by the unfolding events, demanded explanations from the officials present, accusing them of allowing the electoral process to be compromised.

Despite his persistent questioning and allegations of foul play, Obaseki was met with silence from the INEC officials, who, according to reports, chose not to engage with the aggrieved governor. The situation quickly escalated as security personnel stationed at the commission’s office intervened, ushering a visibly enraged Obaseki out of the building at approximately 5 a.m.

The governor, known for his fiery stance on transparency in governance, was said to have resisted initially, demanding clarity on what he termed as “a clear subversion of the will of the people.” However, the combined force of security agents, who had been on high alert throughout the tense election period, escorted him off the premises without further incident.

The removal of Obaseki from the INEC office has sparked widespread reactions, with some of his supporters taking to social media to decry what they perceive as an attempt to undermine the democratic process. Meanwhile, opposition supporters have hailed the swift action of the security agents, arguing that the governor’s presence at the INEC office was an attempt to intimidate officials and interfere with the final results.

As the situation develops, many are now eagerly awaiting official comments from both INEC and Governor Obaseki regarding the unfolding drama, while the outcome of the election remains a point of contention.

This incident has cast a shadow over what is already a highly charged political environment in Edo State, with many questioning the fairness of the electoral process and the role of security forces in managing political tensions.