By Ebel Okonkwo

Israel’s president on Saturday chose Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest rival, to try to form a new government following a deadlocked election that left neither man with a clear path to power.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, is fighting to stay in office after his religious-nationalist coalition lost its majority in an October 27 election but still emerged as the largest bloc in parliament.

Eisenkot, a former military chief, has declined to join forces with Arab parties, with whose support he would have a majority of seats in parliament. But Arab leaders, incensed by what they view as the racist policies of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, still nominated Eisenkot to try to form a government first, giving him the most endorsements.

“President Herzog has invited Gadi Eisenkot to the President’s Residence, where he will be tasked with forming the government tomorrow,” said the spokesperson of President Isaac Herzog, whose largely ceremonial role involves nominating a candidate to form a coalition after elections.

Weeks of protracted negotiations are expected to follow Eisenkot’s nomination. He has 28 days to try to forge a government, with a possible 14-day extension.

His potential pathways to power include trying to form a minority government with Arab support from the outside; forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties that he and his allies have shunned in the past; or forging a unity government with Netanyahu.

Analysts say that all three options are unlikely to take shape. If Eisenkot fails, another candidate can try to form a government and if that candidate fails, parliament can nominate another. There is a deadline for the process of around 100 days. If no one succeeds, another election is ​held.

Likud won the most seats of any single party with 27 in the 120-seat Knesset, but Netanyahu’s wider religious-nationalist coalition garnered only 53 in total, short of a 61-seat majority.

Eisenkot’s Yashar party emerged as the second-largest party with 21 seats, while his coalition, spanning four centre-left to right-wing Jewish-led parties, won just 48 seats. Two parties representing Israel’s Arab minority won an unprecedented 19 seats.

Eisenkot critical of settler violence

A son of Moroccan immigrants, Eisenkot, 66, would be the country’s first prime minister from Israel’s Mizrahi community, Jews who trace their roots to the Middle East and North Africa.

Reserved and media-shy, Eisenkot only entered politics in 2022. He briefly served in Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel before returning to the opposition.

From opposition, he publicly rebuked Netanyahu over his leadership, including his management of the military campaign in Gaza, and has sworn that he would not serve in government with him.

Eisenkot’s public standing is also bound up with the personal price his family has paid since 2023: a son and two nephews were killed fighting in Gaza.

Eisenkot highlighted his security credentials on the campaign trail, citing his “Dahiyeh doctrine” of responding to attacks with disproportionate force, which he deployed as a commander during Israel’s 2006 war with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Eisenkot has criticised settler violence against Palestinians, which has surged since 2023, raising tensions in Israel’s ties with Western states, and he opposes Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have both faced sanctions by some Western countries for inciting violence against Palestinians.

By Bath Okere,Umuahia

As campaign for 2027 election heats up,Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has kicked- off the campaigns for his re-election for second term in office calling for a massive voter turnout of residents to mobilise support and vote for the Labour Party (LP), and its candidates.

Governor Otti made the call on Friday, at the Peace Secondary School field, Isuochi, during the Labour Party,LP, electioneering campaign rally in Umunneochi Local Government Area.

Otti urged the people to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing PVC collection exercise, vote for all Labour Party candidates in the 2027 general elections, and remain vigilant in protecting their votes.

Emphasising the need for credible elections, Governor Otti declared that the guiding principle of the forthcoming elections must be “One man, one vote,” urging the electorate to remain determined and ensure that their votes count.

The Governor expressed profound appreciation to the people of Umunneochi for their consistent support since 2015, assuring them that his administration remains committed to delivering more developmental projects across the area.

Acknowledging the people’s unwavering support in previous elections, Governor Otti said: “Since 2015, when I showed up to contest election in Abia State, I’ve always won Umunneochi, and that is very correct.

“I want to use this opportunity to say, thank you to all of you. We cannot take you for granted.”

The Governor noted that although his administration had spent only three years and five months in office, it had recorded significant progress in Umunneochi. These include the delivery and functionalisation of 12 out of 18 Primary Healthcare Centres, the retrofitting of several primary and secondary schools, and the ongoing development of a Smart School in the area.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, and made available to Journalists in Umuahia.

Governor Otti further disclosed that a General Hospital was under construction in Umunneochi, describing it as a landmark project that would be delivered in the area for the first time.

The State Chief Executive added that his administration had also taken decisive steps to address insecurity and was determined to sustain its efforts until lasting peace is achieved.

On road infrastructure, the Governor said the 11.27-kilometre ring road from Ngodo is nearing completion, while the Mman Bridge is at the design stage. He assured the people that construction would commence soon and that he would return to the area to flag-off the project.

Gov. Otti disclosed that several other roads had also been captured in the administration’s development plans. While acknowledging that more work remained to be done, Governor Otti assured the people that his government would not disappoint them, stressing that his administration is committed to delivering results rather than making unfulfilled promises.

“Instead of saying something and not doing it, we do what we did not say,” Gov. Otti declared, adding that although some projects might take time, his government would continue to address the needs of the people.

The Governor also welcomed new members and Umunneochi political leaders into the Labour Party, assuring them of equal treatment and opportunities, irrespective of when they joined the party. He stressed that the party believes in fairness and inclusiveness, noting that all members are equal.

Before arriving at the rally venue, Governor Otti visited the palace of HRH. Eze Ifeanyi Eke at Amaeke Uru, Lokpanta, Umuchieze, where he interacted with the Umunneochi Council of Traditional Rulers.

The traditional rulers thanked him for the verifiable and impactful projects executed in Umunneochi and declared that he is not in contention with anyone in the 2027 governorship election.

While pronouncing their royal blessings on the Governor, they assured him of doubling the votes they gave him in the last election and appealed for more projects in their Local Government Area.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, explained that the Campaign Council was determined to ensure that Governor Otti visited every nook and cranny of the State to interact with the people, enable them to see and feel his presence, and demonstrate appreciation for the administration’s accomplishments.

Rt. Hon. Agwu recalled that the Governor had stopped at various points before arriving at the venue, where he interacted with different groups of people in the area. He described their enthusiastic reception as an expression of genuine love for the Governor.

He said the warm reception reflected the people’s appreciation of the developmental strides recorded in the State over the past three years.

In their goodwill messages, the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah; Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia North, Chief David Ogba Onuoha (Bourdex); member representing Umunneochi State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathias Ume Nwachi; and the Mayor of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Mr. Sunny Afurobi, expressed delight at receiving the Governor and other Labour Party candidates.

They commended Governor Otti for the developmental projects executed within three years, particularly in road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and the restoration of security. They also noted that the administration had delivered projects which, according to them, previous administrations could not accomplish in 24 years.

They urged the Governor not to be distracted by the diminishing bitter opposition, assuring him of the continued support of the people of Umunneochi and their commitment to supporting Labour Party candidates in the 2027 general elections.

A major highlight of the campaign rally was the formal reception of defectors from other political parties into the Labour Party.

By David Owei

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri for refusing to identify with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

The party’s publicity secretary, Ikaebimo Mark, said in a press statement issued in Yenagoa that the Diri-led APC government is afraid to associate with the Tinubu re-election campaign by erecting billboards without President Tinubu’s re-election.

According to him, several billboards in Yenagoa, the State capital, showed that Diri was urging the electorate in Bayelsa to vote for all the APC candidates in the National Assembly and State Assembly elections without mentioning the President.

Mark stated that Diri’s body language is enough indication to show that he is not on the same page with the APC national leadership.

‘’When we said that the governor, Senator Douye Diri, is not supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we knew exactly what we were saying. Now Governor Douye Diri has erected APC campaign billboards across Bayelsa State without Tinubu’s picture. He is even afraid to associate himself with the photograph of the Presidential candidate of his own party. How can this governor claim to be supporting President Tinubu?