🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Townhall CEO advises Nigerian political parties to begin 2027 election preparations now
via Punch Nigeria6 min read
Ugochukwu Nwagba, CEO of Townhall, a digital platform for grassroots mobilization, states that political parties aiming for success in the 2027 Nigerian general election should have started their preparations three years ago. He emphasizes that elections are decided by long-term preparation, including building structures, volunteer networks, and community relationships, rather than last-minute campaigning. Townhall, which was instrumental in the 2023 elections, has been redeveloped to serve as a "command center" for political and non-political organizations, offering tools for unified operational systems from leadership down to the polling unit. The platform addresses key challenges in political organizing by enabling movements to manage multiple support groups centrally, ensuring coordination and accountability. Nwagba also highlights the importance of internal democracy, with Townhall supporting transparent internal elections to build trust within movements. Furthermore, the platform facilitates structured grassroots fundraising with full accountability, allowing for transparent tracking of contributions and disbursements. A critical feature is its real-time reporting infrastructure from polling units, providing immediate field updates during electoral moments. Nwagba warns against the "expensive mistake" of late mobilization, advocating for early, sustained engagement to build genuine political capital. He notes that the Labour Party utilized Townhall in 2023 for volunteer
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadFormer Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has initiated legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to contest the interim forfeiture of his properties. Malami asserts that the assets, subject to a January 2026 forfeiture order, were legitimately acquired through over three decades of legal practice, business ventures in hospitality, agriculture, and education, and declared income. He claims the EFCC has not provided prima facie evidence linking the properties to criminal activity and describes the allegations as speculative. Malami also alleges that the EFCC inflated the value of his assets and that operatives seized properties and evicted family members without a final forfeiture order, which he deems extrajudicial and a breach of due process. He attributes his wealth to various sources, including bank loans, asset sales, investments, gifts, and book launch proceeds, all duly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau. Malami is seeking to have the interim forfeiture order set aside, maintaining that his properties are legitimate and not connected to unlawful activities. The case is seen as a significant test of the EFCC's asset forfeiture powers and adherence to due process.
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