I’m Samuel Okocha and this is 234Digest: an independent, nonpartisan, reader-focused newsletter that informs you in less time with fact-based news, features and insights about Nigeria. In this weekend edition, we’re covering the latest with Nigeria’s electoral body as it prepares for governorship polls, an $11 billion trial and much more

One top headline

Nigeria’s electoral body in testing times

Nigeria’s electoral body will seek to correct mistakes from last month’s presidential vote as it prepares for governorship and state assembly elections slated for March 18.

But legal disputes and concerns arising from the previous vote are proving to be testing times for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the next round of elections.

Why? The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party are demanding access to inspect materials used for the February 25 presidential elections. The demand is in line with a court order, but the two parties say INEC isn’t complying. On Friday, the PDP called for resignation of INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, citing manipulation of the electoral process. The INEC chairman has threatened legal action. 

So What? The 2023 elections along with the introduction of new technology came at a cost of 305 billion naira (about $664 million) in taxpayer money. But turnout in the presidential vote was the lowest in Nigeria’s recent election history — with only 3 out of 10 people who registered and collected voting cards casting their ballots. For more context, that’s 28.6% of the 87.2 million eligible voters. The reported figure contradicts the huge optimism and turnout that observers saw on election day.

With reported cases of glitches with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, late arrival of voting materials and other logistical challenges, observers said these issues affected eventual voters turnout. INEC admitted the glitches in the previous vote. It has vowed to work and avoid a repeat of the glitches in the next vote.

Long stories short

New rules on data sharing to boost lending in Nigeria

Nigeria’s central bank plans to expand digital payment and boost lending with new rules that allow lenders share authorized customer data with third-party firms including financial technology and e-commerce companies. 

Seplat CEO operates from outside Nigeria in visa row

Seplat Energy CEO Roger Brown now works from the UK following a dispute over work visas and alleged racism in Nigeria. The company said media reports had been “clearly calculated to spread false information”. Seplat said it will work with the ministry to tackle the allegations.

Nigeria’s $11 billion trial ends amid accusations of bribes and missing witnesses

Nigeria wants the UK High Court to strike down an arbitration award of $11 billion in favor of a small offshore company following a failed 2010 gas project. Lawyers for Nigeria and Process & Industrial Development Ltd. accused each other of bribery, duplicity and incompetence in the eight-week trial that has raised questions bordering between what could be a sham litigation or legitimate investor claims. If the hefty award goes to P&ID, it could cost Nigeria almost a third of it’s foreign exchange reserves. A judgment isn’t expected for at least several weeks, reported Bloomberg.

NBC threatens to shut stations airing programmes that endangers national security

Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has vowed to close down broadcast stations airing programmes that pose threats to national security and peaceful co-existence. In a meeting with broadcast stations, the NBC Director-General, Malam Balarabe Ilelah, said coverage of election matters were marred with “dangerous comments’’ which will no longer be tolerated.

Nigeria football legend set to be the hero of a new animated series

The Nigerian icon Jay Jay Okocha is the subject of a new animated series which follows his childhood. The 'Jay Jay: The Chosen One' series will pay homage to the stellar career of the Super Eagles star who led Nigeria to glory at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA, winning the gold medal. The 'reimagining' of Okocha's childhood will be African streamer Showmax's first animated series.

Chelsea confirms Nigeria’s Hassan Sulaiman as Under-18s coach

Nigeria’s Hassan Sulaiman has been confirmed as head coach of Chelsea Under-18 team, having previously been the head coach at Under-16s level. Sulaiman has worked with the Chelsea Academy since 2008, climbing through the coaching ranks and taking on a number of roles with various age groups in the process.

COMMENTARY

Bola Tinubu’s pyrrhic victory

FP: Nigeria’s new president will immediately face pressures from within his party, the opposition, and the majority of voters who didn’t back him. (Read)

Spotting sprouts of democracy

CSMonitor: The world’s shift toward fewer liberties and rights may be bottoming out, according to Freedom House. Nigeria’s recent election shows the potential for progress. (Read)

LONG READ

Nigeria: The political and economic superpower of the future

ER: What is China today may be Nigeria in some future (Read)

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