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Campaign designed to Reach 360 Federal Constituencies and 109 Senatorial Districts Ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

HallowMace Africa has announced the commencement of a nationwide Voter Education Campaign on the Legislature, a strategic civic and democratic education initiative designed to deepen Nigerians’ understanding of the role, powers, responsibilities and importance of the legislature in Nigeria’s democracy.

This was disclosed in a statement co-signed by Amb. Anderson Osiebe
Executive Director
HallowMace Africa

Amb. Oguh Hyginus John
Head, Public Communication Desk on Tuesday.

The campaign is premised on a simple but fundamental reality: the quality of a democracy is significantly influenced by the quality of the people elected to make laws, exercise oversight and represent the interests of citizens.

For many years, political conversations and electoral campaigns in Nigeria have been overwhelmingly dominated by presidential and gubernatorial contests, while elections into the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly often receive considerably less public attention.

HallowMace Africa believes that this imbalance has serious consequences for democratic governance.

“While Nigerians understandably pay close attention to who occupies the Presidency and the various State Houses, insufficient attention is often given to the individuals elected to represent them in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly”.

“Consequently, individuals who may lack the requisite competence, capacity, integrity, legislative understanding or commitment to effective representation sometimes find their way into legislative institutions”.

“The legislature is not merely a collection of elected politicians. It is a constitutionally established institution with critical responsibilities that directly affect the daily lives, rights and welfare of Nigerians.

Legislators make and amend laws, represent their constituents, scrutinise government policies and expenditure, exercise oversight over Ministries, Departments and Agencies, approve public expenditure and loans where constitutionally required, and provide an important mechanism through which citizens’ concerns can be brought into national and state decision-making”.

The decisions taken by legislators can influence virtually every sector of society, from education and healthcare to security, infrastructure, taxation, employment, agriculture, social protection and economic development.

Therefore, the question Nigerians should be asking is not only “Who will be President?” or “Who will be Governor?” but also “Who will make the laws under which we live?”

The HallowMace Africa Voter Education Campaign seeks to encourage Nigerians to move beyond personality-driven politics, party loyalty, financial inducements and emotional considerations when choosing legislative representatives.

The campaign will promote a culture of issue-based electoral decision-making, encouraging voters to examine the track records, competence, character, legislative knowledge, experience, capacity and policy positions of candidates seeking to represent them.

Citizens will also be encouraged to understand the distinction between the responsibilities of the executive and legislative arms of government and to appreciate what they should reasonably expect from their elected representatives.

HallowMace Africa emphasises that effective representation is not simply about the ability of a politician to distribute personal gifts or attract occasional projects. Legislative representation encompasses law-making, policy influence, oversight, accountability, constituency representation and effective advocacy for the people.

A major component of the campaign is its grassroots approach.

HallowMace Africa plans to take the Voter Education Campaign across Nigeria, with an ambitious target of reaching all 360 Federal Constituencies and 109 Senatorial Districts.

The organisation intends to engage citizens through town-hall meetings, radio and television programmes, community sensitisation, public lectures, stakeholder engagements, social media campaigns, educational materials and other appropriate platforms.

The campaign will seek to engage young people, first-time voters, women, civil society organisations, community leaders, traditional institutions, religious organisations, students, professional groups, market associations, persons with disabilities and other critical segments of the electorate.

The objective is to ensure that legislative democracy is not discussed only within the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, political party offices or elite political circles, but becomes a subject of meaningful conversation within communities across Nigeria.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, HallowMace Africa believes that voter education must go beyond explaining how and where to vote.

Citizens must also understand what they are voting for and who they are voting to represent them.

The campaign will therefore encourage voters to ask critical questions before supporting legislative candidates:

What does this candidate understand about the responsibilities of a legislator?

What is the candidate’s record of public service?

Can the candidate effectively participate in law-making?

Does the candidate understand the needs and challenges of the constituency?

What issues does the candidate intend to champion?

Does the candidate have the capacity to exercise effective oversight?

What is the candidate’s position on accountability and transparency?

Does the candidate have the character and integrity required for public office?

How does the candidate intend to remain accessible and accountable to constituents?

HallowMace Africa believes that an informed voter is one of the strongest safeguards of democracy.

It therefore seeks to build a culture in which Nigerians do not disappear from the political process after voting.

The vote should be the beginning of citizens’ engagement with their representatives, not the end.

The campaign will also encourage constituents to monitor the performance of their legislators, understand legislative processes, demand accountability and constructively engage their representatives throughout their tenure.

As an organisation committed to Parliamentary Advocacy and Journalism, HallowMace Africa considers legislative awareness and voter education essential to the future of Nigerian democracy.

The message is simple:

“KNOW YOUR LEGISLATURE. KNOW YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. KNOW YOUR VOTE.”

HallowMace Africa is calling on citizens across the country to pay closer attention, ask the right questions, demand accountability and recognise that every legislative vote is a vote that shapes the laws, policies and direction of the nation.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as new statutory appointees assume office at the regional bloc’s institutions.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the assurance in Abuja at a handover ceremony for outgoing and incoming statutory appointees of ECOWAS institutions.

Speaking as the host minister and conveying the greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Enikanolaiye described the transition as a demonstration of continuity in the regional integration process, more than five decades after the establishment of ECOWAS.

He urged the new leadership to remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of building a united, peaceful, prosperous and integrated West Africa.

The minister particularly called for an “ECOWAS of citizens and not of governments”, urging the incoming management to make the interests of ordinary citizens central to its policies and programmes.

He charged the new leadership to prioritise the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050, “The ECOWAS of Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All”, with emphasis on free movement, intra-regional trade and investment, infrastructure development, food and energy security, youth and women empowerment, and job creation.

Enikanolaiye also stressed the need for financial discipline and accountability within the regional organisation.

He said, “financial probity, accountability, cost-effectiveness and prudent management must remain watchwords”, adding that ECOWAS must justify the huge financial investments made by Nigeria and other member states through the Community Levy.

The minister identified peace and security as critical to achieving meaningful regional economic integration, while calling for stronger engagement with countries belonging to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

He urged ECOWAS to engage the AES countries as “brothers and sisters with shared challenges and aspirations”, stressing the need to address regional differences through dialogue and cooperation.

While commending the outgoing President, Commissioners and Heads of ECOWAS Institutions for their service, Enikanolaiye congratulated the incoming team and urged them to lead with vision, integrity, efficiency and a strong commitment to serving citizens.

“Nigeria remains committed to working constructively with the new leadership and all Member States towards a stronger, more integrated and people-centred ECOWAS,” he said.
The new President of the ECOWAS Commission, General Birame Diop, has assumed office, succeeding Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia, whose four-year tenure has ended.

Diop, a former Senegalese Minister of Defence and former Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, was appointed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 69th Ordinary Summit in Sierra Leone.

He is expected to provide strategic leadership towards strengthening regional integration, peace and security, economic cooperation and institutional effectiveness.

Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi will serve as Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, while new Commissioners have also taken over their respective portfolios.

The ceremony was attended by the Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, H.E. Cheikh Niang, members of the Permanent Representatives Committee, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, staff of ECOWAS institutions and members of the media.

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A prominent Edo politician and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Dan Orbih is dead.

This was disclosed in a family notice signed Francis Udukhomoi Orbih Esq on Tuesday stating that:

“With profound sadness and a heavy heart but in total submission to the will of the almighty God, the family of Chief M.C.K. Orbih announce the passing of our beloved brother, husband, father and uncle, Chief Daniel Osi Orbih, who passed away on Monday, 31 August 2026.

“He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Florence Orbih; his children, Ms. Winifred Anwosiobor Orbih and Dr. Mildred Omonemi Orbih; his brothers and sisters; as well as other members of the extended family.

“At this difficult time, we ask family members, friends and well-wishers to remember the entire family in their prayers as we mourn this painful loss.
Further details will be announced in due course.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.