Politics
Georgia’s president says election ‘has been stolen’
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili accused the ruling party Georgian Dream of choosing the path of dictatorship following the election in the ex-Soviet country.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili told DW on Monday that the country’s election had been fraudulent and had been effectively stolen, calling on Georgians to take to the streets to reject the results.
The nation’s Central Electoral Commission said on Sunday that ruling party Georgian Dream won Saturday’s parliamentary election with more than 54% of the vote, a result that would represent a setback to pro-EU forces in the post-Soviet country.
The Georgian Dream party is seen as tending more toward Russia than the West, although they also claim to be interested in joining the EU.
Pro-Western opposition parties have rejected the preliminary result and announced protests.
Zourabichvili: ‘Georgian people on the streets will confirm’ election was stolen
President Salome Zourabichvili told DW that she rejected the official results, based on multiple reports of fraud.
“So this is an election that has been stolen and I think that the Georgian people on the streets will confirm this judgment.”
Observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have said there was evidence of “democratic backsliding” in Georgia.
Its monitoring mission said it had noted cases of voter intimidation, vote buying and double voting, particularly in rural areas, and said the elections were marred by media polarization and hate speech directed both at the opposition and at civil society. However, the OSCE observers stopped short of saying the election was rigged.
Zourabichvili opposes coalition with Georgian Dream
The Georgian president ruled out the possibility of pro-European forces working with Georgian Dream.
“I think, first of all, there is no intention of the Georgian Dream to form a coalition with anyone,” Zourabichvili said.
“They have a majority, they had hoped for the constitutional majority, and I think that explains the extent of the violations that they were aiming at having 60% in order to carry on their program, which is to first impeach the president, then put the opposition forces in jail and judge some of the opposition parties,” she added.
Zourabichvili accused Georgian Dream of having chosen the path of dictatorship instead of democracy.
Demonstrations expected
Georgia’s pro-European coalition has called for people to take to the streets on Monday evening to reject the election results.
President Zourabichvili said Georgia’s future was at stake.
“I think that it’s the Georgian people that has to support this judgement because they are the ones that have seen their votes being stolen,” she said.
“They are the ones that are driven by force into a regime that will be more like Russia rather than like European democratic country,” she added.
Calls for renewed elections
Zourabichvili said political parties in Georgia will seek new elections with Europe’s support “so that we are sure that they are transparent and fair.”
Additionally, she called for Europe to hold the Georgian Dream ruling party accountable for the commitments it should be fulfilling.
“I think Brussels has to be very clear… about what it was asking from this government to deliver: the recommendations that were made by the European Commission, the rejection of all the Russian laws. And to hold free and fair elections,” Zourabichvili said.
“I think the government has not delivered on any of these,” she added.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Author: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
Politics
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.
He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.
Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.
In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?
“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.
According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
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