Opinion: The Scots are ditching the Tories too… [and the SNP for the win)

Scotland – story so far is everyone is gaining save for the Conservatives and independents

Councillors

SNP: +17

Lab: +12

LD: +13

Green: +11

Conservatives: -40

Independents: -13” (Lewis Goodall, 06.05.2022).

Just like in England, the Local Councillor Elections in Scotland is going in favour of the opposition to the Conservative Party. The Tories are losing by a landslide. The Scottish National Party (SNP), Labour Party, Liberal-Democratic Party and the Green Party have all better results all over in Scotland. That got to hurt the Tories, as that was a place of rising Conservative Party ahead of the Brexit and such. Now things are turning and it’s showing the distress.

The Prime Minister and his ruling party should feel shattered by the results in England and Scotland. This is just showing that the Conservative Party isn’t having a stronghold or a strong base in Scotland. When the party can loose to everyone else. This is showing that the tide is turning. While SNP is furthering their mandate and galvanized instead. That should be a lesson for Sir Keir Stramer. Who needs to see the SNP as a possible ally in the up-coming snap-elections.

Since these results aren’t earth shattering, but the SNP is going from strength to strength. The leadership of the SNP should be happy and they should follow this momentum as well. Since, the Tories are failing and weakening. The other allies and parties should gather around to ensure the next steps ahead. These should use the new mandates and solidify it.

The SNP, Labour, Lib-Dems and Greens needs to make itself a coalition and plan ahead to ensure the end of the Tories. That is if they want a more left-leaning parties. It is time for them to show why they are an alternative and how they can serve the constituents.

The Tories should be shaking since they are losing massively. The margins or error is becoming visible. The damage done by the Brexit and by the scandals of Downing Street 10 is now hurting across the board. The governing party is wasting it’s opportunities to make a difference and actually make things better. Instead, it has served the elites and the wealthy, which the citizens has rebuked now.

The SNP should be praised for this and the other parties has delivered too. Labour should look into the Scottish Chapter and what it did to get these results. Because, that could be a healthy look to the rural and how Labour is struggling in the Northern England. They need to listen and be inspired by that. While Lib-Dems and Greens are showing to be a viable alternative too now. Therefore, this election should be seen as inspiring.

We should be proud of the Scots and their votes. They have decided to totally turn on the Tories and it’s deserved. Peace.

Opinion: The Tories are losing and some are already crying out loud about “long-Corbyn”

The local elections are really showing force this time around. The Conservative Party is losing councillors all around the board. In constituencies which has had no barren for other parties. The Tories has lost Barnet and other parts of London as well.

This is as result of the abysmal governing, a reckoning of the fatigue after bad results of Brexit and a train-wreck of handling the pandemic. The Tories knows this and that isn’t only the party-gate saga, but the whole mission of safety and losses of lives, which could have been saved if the care-homes was safeguarded and whatnot. The Tories could have with their majority and abilities to salvage more lives, but they have also kept the NHS barren for years. While giving tax-incentives to the elites and Londongrad. Therefore, the voters would vote strategically to punish the Tories. That all makes sense.

The opposition of the Tories has made arrangement and deals, which is giving leeway to each others parties. That was a distraction and called out by the Tories. However, the Tories has made similar arrangement with the Brexit Party and whatnot before. So, this is a failure of an election now matter how they are looking at it.

The ruling party should have solidify their local councils and prove their value. However, the public have rebuked them and they have lost vastly. Some might say Labour and Sir Keir Stramer haven’t won enough. While Labour did win seats and their allies won a lot too. The Liberal-Democrats and the Greens are winning landslides. This shows that the Labour needs to think of a coalition bid in the up-coming elections or in the next snap-elections. It would only make sense and be strategic to beat the Tories. Because, the Tories is the party who has everything to loose.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is losing the Councils and the power locally. The Tories are weakening and having less councillors. That got to hurt the pride and arrogance. That is why the big-media is already with the “Long-Corbyn” paradigm and saying the Labour isn’t doing as good as it did during Corbyn.

We know that Sir Keir Stramer doesn’t have the personality or the charisma of Corbyn. Neither does he have the ability to galvanize the party in the same manner. That’s why if his smart to use allies and these sorts of tactics to get power. Especially, when you don’t have the capacity to do it on their own. The same joining hands with the Scottish National Party (SNP) just like the Tories did with the DUP after the last snap-election.

So, Labour with the momentum and their allies could make a landslide. That is proven the massive losses of the Tories. The more numbers are trickling in… the worse it is looking. It isn’t getting better and the favourable numbers are going to Labour and Lib-Dems or Greens. These are the winners of the night and should pop the champagne. They are getting the councillors and the future regional or possible representatives national. Because, they are getting tested locally. That is really something and it’s a defeat by all margins.

The Prime Minister and his party has lost this election. The Tories can cry-out “long-Corbyn” but they know the gist. They are failing and it’s evident. This is showing that the people are ready for a change and doesn’t trust the Tories. That’s why they are voted out and the other parties are getting a stronger mandate.

Now, it is up to the Labour and the allies to plan ahead. They should play smart and strategic in the next election too. In such a way they can have a coalition victory. If not… they are short-sighted and not thinking ahead. The Tories are wounded and they are battered. However, they don’t mind as long as they have power in White Hall and Downing Street. Peace.

Philippines: Commission on Elections (COMELEC) – Task Force Kontra Bigay (06.05.2022)

Kenya: WSR Presidential Campaign Secretariat – Press Release on Intent to Commit Electoral Offenses, Abuse of Office and Corruption of State Institutions (05.05.2022)

Kenya: Joint CSO Press Release – High Court Ruling spells Clarity in the Regulation of Campaign Financing in Kenya (05.05.2022)

Omoro County By-Election: The battle-lines is getting drawn ahead of the polls…

 

Since the late speaker Jacob Oulanyah died in Seattle, United States of America there has been a vacant seat in the 11th Parliament. When the news of his demise and death came to the forefront. There was not only a play for who would succeed him as the Speaker, but who would takeover his seat as well.

This is the first time in a while since a National Resistance Movement MP died in office. The last time there was an assassination of Ibrahim Abiriga in the 10th Parliament. That election became a violent and a horrid affair. The late speaker won the seat in 2006 and never looked back. He was the incumbent and it became his seat. Now, this will be opening up.

Here is the vital news from the candidacies in the race. While there is no news about the Independents that ran in the 2021 General Election who lost to Oulanyah. These have not returned for now. We have to wait who the Electoral Commission is putting on the ballots, but the parties are ushering in their candidates.

This is the reports for now and then two rumours in the end…

The DP:

The Democratic Party DP has pulled out of the Omoro County parliamentary by-election. The move came shortly after Godwin Okello a DP aspirant withdrew his candidature from the race on Tuesday. Okello was the only aspirant who publicly expressed interest to vie for the position under DP after the electoral commission announce a vacancy in the constituency last month” (Capital FM Uganda, 05.05.2022).

The FDC:

We unveil Mr Owani Denis Dickson as our flag bearer for Omoro county in the upcoming parliamentary by-election and Ms Ayo Mercy as our flag bearer -District Councilor for Lalogi/Lakwaya Subcounties Our structured campaign will be coordinated by Hon. O’Jara PP. Okin the Member of Parliament for Chua West” (Forum for Democratic Change, 29.04.2022).

The Justice Forum (JEEMA):

Mega’s CD Brian Alaka Comes Out To Take Contest For Late Jacob Oulanyah’s Omoro Parliamentary Seat as the days for nomination of candidates draw nearer. According to the Electoral Commission road map, the nomination of candidates will take place from May 12th to May 13, 2022, at Omoro District Council Hall. The campaigns will take place from May 16th 2022” (Luo Tunes, 01.05.2022).

The National Unity Platform:

Who is Toolit Simon Akecha , the NUP flag bearer For omoro County?

National Unity Platform (NUP) / People Power has fronted Former FDC Member Toolit Simon AKECHA as its flag-bearer in the upcoming Omoro County by-election. Toolit is the former Omoro County MP (FDC) who in 2016 narrowly lost the seat to Hon Jacob Oulanya with 11,044 votes against Toolit’s 9,088 votes. In that election, there were a record breaking 2,173 invalid votes recorded in the declaration form that Toolit claimed they were his and sued Oulanya and NRM for electoral fraud and massive rigging. He is poised to be the main challenger to NRM Candidate Andrew OJOK, a son to the late Jacob Oulanya” (Nile TV, 26.04.2022).

The NRM candidate – Andrew Ojok Oulanyah:

How easy was it to get all the other six NRM aspirants to step down for you? They only stepped down in solidarity with the family. Two weeks ago, before the party issued its official position, we were not sure whether we would undergo primary elections and who the candidate would be. I want to thank the NRM party chairman (President Museveni) who eventually gave me the flag” (Tobbias Jolly Owino – ‘I wake up every day knowing I have to finish my father’s task – Ojok Oulanyah’ 01.05.2022, Daily Monitor).

First Rumour:

This haven’t been verified but been spread online. That there was a supposed gathering/meeting between the Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which was to support the NRM candidate ahead of the polls. As the three parties was afraid to challenge NUP’s Toolit. That meeting was done in the middle-of-April this year and to ensure it.

In that regard, we know the DP dropped out and we have to see if the UPC will do the same. That will be striking and evidence of the possible secret agreement. However, unless the minutes and the signed agreement comes into the public sphere… until that happens this is just a rumour.

Second rumour:

That the Omoro RDC Ladit Onyuk Andrew is directly campaigning and using his office to campaign for the NRM candidate in the county. That is very evident by his Facebook profile and how his using his office for the bidding of Ajok Oulanyah. This is most likely true and has been reported on by the newspapers since mid-April as well. Therefore, this rumour is genuine.

This election going to be contested. Expect arrests, election-violence and insincere statements by the authorities. The By-Election going to be a proof of the foothold of the NRM in Omoro County. The machinery will camp in the Omoro County. To expect something else is foolish. As they want to settle and have the son of the speaker to get the seat in Parliament.

However, the battle of Toolit and Oulanyah will be a hectic one. Expect the rallies of the NUP to be tear-gassed and get into trouble. While the NRM will campaign everywhere and use vast funds on voter-tourism. That is what the NRM has done for over a decade now. They will come in with the army, the whole state machinery, use of buses and free food for the masses. Small tokens and gifts to SACCO’s too. That is what the state does to suddenly showering the locals. However, the state will not invest in the hospitals or the health care centres. No, that will not happen…

I wouldn’t expect anything else. This might be this terms Arua By-Election. The same sort of drive and possibilities are here. Because, the stakes are high and the will of the NRM to settle the score. The use of the authorities and the state resources will be shown. Nothing should shock you, but be aware. It might even look like a war-zone in the tiny window to the polls, as the state wants to signal that their candidate is the way out. Peace.

Opinion: Biden is acting like an opposition politician ahead of the mid-terms…

Third, if the Court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose. And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law” (Biden – ‘Statement by President Joe Biden, 03.05.2022).

The term of Joseph Biden as President has been a faulty one. It has been a corporate stooge and furthering the interests of the K Street Lobbyists. This period of time after President Donald J. Trump haven’ been about changes or making significant progress. Instead, the ones running the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Presidency is taking it easy on the job.

The Democratic Party is following party-lines and procedural lines, without any sort of results worth mentioning. Even under the despicable Trump term they got things done for their voters and they did what they could with 51 votes with a tie with VP Mike Pence. The Democrats won’t even do that or push that, as they have the option of doing so. The Republican’s did it. So why can’t Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi pull it off? Is that rule on for the GOP and the Republican’s when they have a gig to fulfil?

Just listen to his interview:

““We will be ready when any ruling is issued,” Biden said. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe ”it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose,” he said. “And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November,” the president said” (CNBC – ‘Biden defends abortion rights after leak of Supreme Court draft striking down Roe v. Wade’ 03.05.2022).

He sounds like his not in office and needs more people in Congress. That is partly true, especially in the Senate, as long as the Filibuster rule is followed. Nevertheless, the President could use the VP tie like mentioned, if they played the political games like the Republicans. However, we know the Democrats will never do that.

We know that Biden doesn’t have a spine or the way to be brutal. Neither does Schumer or Pelosi. They wouldn’t dare to challenge the norm and do that for the safety of woman across the Republic. No, they rather politicking and use it as a means to an end. They rather use this for the mid-terms than securing the lives of woman more safe. That’s really insane and show how little they care.

I called Biden weak-tea ahead of the polls, but his cold-tea and a tasteless fellow too. Instead of using the power, the leadership of two houses and pull the strings within own party to get things done. His asking for the citizens to further their power and get more Democrats elected. Like the public doesn’t know the Democrats already have the House and the Senate. However, that is wasted until the mid-terms.

The Roe V. Wade possibly overturned should be the first memo to start the codification or ensure the motion to create a law out of the ruling. As the Democrats has the power to do so. Nevertheless, that’s too much to ask… Biden is lacking the character and political ambition to even establish abortion rights in the Republic.

This just shows how disingenuous Biden and the Democrats are. They could fix it and make it happen. That is if they actually cared or was concerned. Instead, they are using this as a means to campaign. Because, it is not like the Biden administration can campaign on its achievements or policies it has ushered it. It is an empty shell of government and they are just busy cashing-in-the-checks. Peace.

Somalia: Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism – Election Debates Without Approval (05.05.2022)

Opinion: Bong Bong Marcos doesn’t trust the process

Still smarting from the loss, which he spent five years trying to overturn, Marcos Jr told his nearly six million Facebook followers late Tuesday (May 4) of the need to be “vigilant of our votes”. In the short video, Marcos Jr wore a traditional barong shirt and stood behind a lectern, with the Philippines flag in the background – a far cry from his usual folksy style. “Let us protect our decision and let us not allow it to be stolen from us again,” Marcos Jr said” (Channel News Asia – ‘Marcos Jr warns supporters to prevent Philippine poll being ‘stolen’ 05.04.2022).

The one that should be offended is Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the other government authorities ensuring free and fair elections in the Philippines. That the so-called front-runner, former senator Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Junior comes out with this now so short before the polls. Only shows that he will have excuses or probable causes, if the results doesn’t go his way. Since he already stated that the election could get stolen.

BBM is really banking on the Pulse Asia polls of late, which have given him a massive advantage. While he has also plenty of endorsements. However, there are other polls and such, which gives the other main candidate a lead, which is Vice President Leni Robredo. So, we know these two will go for the win and no one should deny that. However, there can only be one announced by COMELEC.

We know that in the VP race in 2016, which both of them stood tall in last time. Robredo only one by a small margin over Marcos. It was only differing with about 300,000 votes. Marcos got 14,1 million votes and Robredo get 14,4 million votes. Therefore, no one should be shocked if it becomes close again. It wasn’t like Duterte who won by a landslide in comparison to his competition for the Presidency in the same election.

Yes, by comparison now… both candidates has been endorsed by plenty of people. They have both had successful campaign rallies and been visible. Even if BBM haven’t participated in any one-to-one debate or part of the national debates at all. He has been in the shadow and let his spokesperson take most of the press. That’s why his hiding in the background like his afraid of the public, unless it is friendly people at his rallies. While Robredo has been attending all, except for the last one. So, their campaigns has differed and it shows.

It is really striking to do this in the final stages of the campaign, as you can with certainty know how people will vote. A candidate no matter who they are cannot take away the agency or ability of the voter to vote on whoever they like. The voter can say it wants to vote the BBM to Pulse Asia, but vote secretly of “Isko” for that matter. Therefore, the thieving and stolen vote isn’t even that.

The Presidential Candidate should be better and come with arguments to vote for him. The campaign and the spokesperson should come with viable reasons to back him. Instead, the entitlement and the arrogance is so striking. That he thinks the election will be stolen, if it doesn’t go to him. He has already lost once to Marcos in 2016 and he could in practicality lose for the second time to her. However, that is for the voters to decide and their final choices up to the moment they pick the ballot and actually vote.

Bong Bong” Marcos should have faith the people. He should show that his ready to represent them and be their guy. Instead his throwing shade about the process and questions the COMELEC before the results is even announced. That is weak tea… Peace.

Opinion: Duterte don’t need to endorse anyone, the PDP-Laban has already done it for him…

(I repeat), you better disabuse your minds about getting into guesses and assumptions. There is none. I will not be endorsing any presidential candidate now until December” – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (03.05.2022)

At this point in time and so close to the end of the campaigns, the incumbent and outgoing Philippines President Duterte don’t need to endorse anyone. However, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas Ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) did endorse Presidential Candidate Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Junior and Vice President Sara Carpio Duterte on the 21st March 2022. That’s 43 days in between and shouldn’t be forgotten so few days before the polls.

The PDP-Laban National Executive Committee Resolution No. 26 of 21st March 2022 was crystal clear and Duterte is a part of the Cursi faction. He knows the stakes and what his party did. So, Duterte is by association and the voice of the PDP-Laban endorsing the UniTeam without signing a document or release an official statement from himself. At this point… Duterte don’t need to do it, because the PDP-Laban party has already done it.

The party has done the job already and his neutrality is pointless. We knew that he wouldn’t go pink or support any other person than his family. The UniTeam is his place and we all know it. Not like he would endorse Isko or Robredo for that matter. If he did… it would be a shocker, but hard to believe, as his party has already resolved the matter long time ago.

That’s why today’s neutrality statement is pointless. He should just say that he will back the ticket of his daughter and current Davao Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. That’s something people would believe and it would be sincere. Because, the PDP-Laban doesn’t have a direct Presidential Candidate or Vice President. That’s why we know the party is endorsing and working for the UniTeam in this campaign.

The whole time there was a squabble and uncertainty, the PDP-Laban having various of tickets and candidates, which all backed out of the race, including Duterte himself. There was a month or so where the party toyed around with two three types of tickets, which all ended in a clean slate. Therefore, the UniTeam is the only for Duterte…

The PDP-Laban isn’t Switzerland or someone who acts like a neutral party. No, the PDP-Laban has already decided and you cannot backtrack that. Especially, when we know the drill and the reasoning behind it. He can hide behind his own “neutrality” but we know that it’s not totally true. The same with his party, which plenty said they would back Inday Sara. It was inevitable …. and bound to happen.

President Duterte can take us all for fools, but we know better and it’s just posing for the public. We know very well where his heart is and if it wasn’t he would betray his own family. Which we know the President would never do. He like anyone else wants a political dynasty and ushering the daughter to become VP would be the continuation of that legacy. Peace.