Politics

Japan’s LDP elects Takaichi as new leader likely to be first female prime minister

Published

11 months ago

October 5, 2025

Sanae Takaichi, a former economic security minister and a right-wing figure in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has been elected to lead Japan’s ruling party, making her the likely candidate to become Japan’s first female prime minister. She defeated Shinjiro Koizumi in a run-off vote. The parliamentary vote to formally elect the new prime minister is expected to take place on October 15.

Takaichi, 64, is a protege of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and aligns with a conservative vision for Japan. While her victory is historic as the first female leader of the LDP, critics note her generally conservative stance on social issues. In the past, she has supported the LDP’s view of women serving as good mothers and wives, and she opposes social reforms such as same-sex marriage, patrilineal imperial succession laws, and allowing married couples to have separate surnames.

She has, however, recently spoken about the need to educate men about female health issues like menopause to better support women in school and at work, and during her campaign, she promised to increase female representation in her cabinet. Some experts are skeptical, suggesting she may not actively champion women’s rights or gender equality policies, despite her prior role as Minister for Gender Equality, and may be primarily focused on following the right-wing agenda of her mentor.

As the new leader, Takaichi faces significant domestic and international challenges. Domestically, she must work to regain public trust in the LDP following recent election losses that left the coalition without a majority in both houses of parliament. Key issues she will need to address include an aging population, a faltering economy, and growing public anxiety about rising prices and immigration.

During the campaign, both Takaichi and Koizumi appealed to voters concerned about immigration, with Takaichi stating that Japan should “reconsider policies that allow in people with completely different cultures and backgrounds.” Economically, Takaichi has historically favored aggressive monetary easing and big fiscal spending, policies similar to “Abenomics,” though she has recently tempered her stance.

On the international front, Takaichi, known as a China hawk and a wartime history revisionist who regularly visits the Yasukuni Shrine, may face complicated diplomatic relations with China and South Korea.

Her “Japan First” policy is seen as aligning with the “America First” policy of U.S. President Donald Trump, and a diplomatic meeting with him is anticipated in late October, where he may pressure Japan to increase its defense spending. She will also need to secure cooperation from opposition lawmakers, particularly more centrist groups, to govern effectively since the LDP-led coalition no longer holds a parliamentary majority.

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Politics

VIDEO: #OSUNDECIDES2026! Angry Youths Storm INEC Office, Chant “Fadahunsi Ole”

Published

1 day ago

August 16, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Some Osun youths gathered at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osogbo, Saturday night, to monitor the collation of results from the governorship election.

In a video from the scene, the youths could be heard chanting “Fadahunsi ole, your plans will not work”.

The senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, had earlier been captured in another video during the election, where he was seen confronting and allegedly threatening voters at his polling unit in the presence of a police officer.

The chant came as the collation of results from the election continued at the INEC headquarters.

Watch video below..

“Ole ! Ole ! Tiff, Tiff, your scope will not work, we know what you’re trying to do, you have to upload the result now”

Osun state residents don mount for INEC office 😭😂✨ pic.twitter.com/ux1mkhgfoP

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) August 15, 2026

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Politics

Osun Election: EU Observer Hub Uncovers 323 Electoral Offences, 38 Security Incidents

Published

1 day ago

August 16, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The European Union (EU) Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has claimed that there were over 38 reported security incidents and 323 electoral offences and irregularities in the Osun 2026 election.

Naija News reports that the Union, which comprises the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), the International Press Centre (IPC), the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC) and Yiaga Africa, made the claim in a statement on Saturday.

The hub asserted that the 726 polling units monitored were disrupted by violent acts and irregularities.

They disclosed that they had deployed 823 accredited observers across polling units in all 30 local government areas to monitor the election.

The statement read, “Of 2,339,233 registered voters, 1,906,390, representing 81.50 per cent, had collected their Permanent Voters Cards and were eligible to vote.”

Speaking on the security incidents, the Union stated that there were 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and 9 cases of voter intimidation by security personnel.

The hub said, “It separately recorded 323 cases of electoral offences across the polling units observed, including 103 cases of vote trading, 85 cases of exposure of ballot papers, 31 cases of obstruction of voters, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units, 28 cases of inducement of polling and security officials, 14 cases of voter impersonation, 12 cases of multiple voting and 7 cases of misconduct by election officials.”

The Hub also identified specific cases of voter intimidation by security agents at PU 29-10-10-005, Igbon District Council School, Ejigbo, and PU 29-30-06-015, opposite No. 22 Oke Ola Street, Okanla Area, Osogbo.

“During the accreditation process, 608 of 726 observed polling units, or 83.7 per cent, had polling officials with a full complement of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials between 7:30am and 8:00 am. A further 75 polling units opened between 8:00am and 8:30am, and 42 between 8:30 am and 11:00am, while one polling unit remained unopened as of 11:00am due to the non-arrival of personnel and materials,” the statement read.

Source: naijanews.com

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Politics

Osun Poll: Full List Of LGAs Won By Adeleke

Published

1 day ago

August 16, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Governor of Osun State and candidate of the Accord Party (A), Ademola Adeleke, has been officially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the 2026 governorship election.

Naija News had earlier reported that Adeleke, who contested against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji and several other candidates, had a total of 511,067 votes while Oyebamiji gathered 444,815 votes, a difference of 66,256 votes.

Adeleke won 19 local government areas, while his closest rival, Oyebamiji, won 11.

Here are the local government areas won by Adeleke:

Ede North: Adeleke — 35,427; APC — 10,283

Osogbo: Adeleke — 36,480; APC — 30,474

Ede South: Adeleke — 26,188; APC — 6,219

Iwo: Adeleke — 27,085; APC — 19,660

Ife East: Adeleke — 27,201; APC — 18,600

Ife Central: Adeleke — 21,171; APC — 15,913

Ifelodun: Adeleke — 21,107; APC — 18,396

Oriade: Adeleke — 21,343; APC — 14,863

Egbedore: Adeleke — 19,278; APC — 11,194

Odo Otin: Adeleke — 18,003; APC — 15,435

Ilesa West: Adeleke — 16,196; APC — 12,756

Ila: Adeleke — 16,211; APC — 12,934

Ayedaade: Adeleke — 16,681; APC — 15,719

Ife North: Adeleke — 13,879; APC — 9,613

Orolu: Adeleke — 12,352; APC — 10,622

Boluwaduro: Adeleke — 7,118; APC — 7,050

Ayedire: Adeleke — 11,073; APC — 9,910

Ejigbo Local Government Area and Ifedayo

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has claimed that there were over 38 reported security incidents and 323 electoral offences and irregularities in the Osun 2026 election.

The hub asserted that violent acts and irregularities disrupted the 726 polling units monitored.

Source: naijanews.com

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