South Korea’s political landscape was thrown into chaos on Wednesday as lawmakers accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of declaring martial law in a bid to avoid criminal investigations into himself and his family.

The unprecedented declaration of martial law—South Korea’s first in over four decades—was swiftly overturned by a dramatic overnight vote in parliament, but the fallout has plunged the nation into political turmoil and raised alarm among its allies.

Yoon, elected president in 2022 and a former star public prosecutor, now faces an impeachment push after opposition lawmakers filed a motion accusing him of “gravely and extensively” violating the constitution.

The motion claims that Yoon’s imposition of martial law was an unconstitutional and illegal effort to avoid impending investigations into alleged illegal acts involving himself and his family.

The motion could be put to a vote as soon as Friday morning, and with the opposition holding a large majority in the 300-member National Assembly, Yoon’s chances of surviving the vote appear slim.

The dramatic events began Tuesday evening when Yoon declared martial law, citing the threat from North Korea and “anti-state forces.”

In response, more than 190 lawmakers defied the military’s lockdown of parliament and forced their way into the chamber to vote against the declaration.

Under South Korea’s constitution, martial law must be lifted if a majority of lawmakers demand it, which forced Yoon to rescind his order just six hours later in a televised address.

Yoon’s decision has been met with outrage across the nation.

Senior aides, including the defense minister, resigned on Wednesday, taking responsibility for the confusion caused by the martial law order.

By evening, Yoon had not made a public appearance, and protests continued to intensify.

Outside parliament, demonstrators celebrated the repeal of martial law, with many calling for Yoon’s resignation.

Lim Myeong-pan, a 55-year-old protester, said, “Yoon’s act of imposing it in the first place without legitimate cause is a serious crime in itself.

“He has paved his own path to impeachment with this.”

In another show of defiance, thousands of protesters gathered outside Yoon’s office in central Seoul, demanding that he step down.

“I was so incensed I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, I came out to make sure we push out Yoon once and for all,” said 50-year-old Kim Min-ho, a protester at the assembly.

The opposition’s Democratic Party has also filed a complaint of “insurrection” against Yoon, several of his ministers, and top military and police officials—charges that could lead to life imprisonment or even death if proven.

Yoon’s declaration took South Korea’s close allies by surprise.

The United States, which has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in the country, said it had not been informed in advance and expressed relief when the martial law order was reversed.

While China refrained from commenting on the situation, it urged Seoul to take steps to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens.

Yoon’s approval rating has dropped to a record low of 19% following controversies surrounding his leadership, including issues involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified that its Early Exit Package (EEP) is entirely voluntary, dispelling rumours of forced mass retirements.

The apex bank assured that the initiative, which was introduced following extensive consultations, has no negative impact on eligible staff who choose not to participate.

In a statement released on Wednesday, in Abuja, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, explained that the decision to roll out the EEP across all staff levels was the result of dialogue with the Bank’s Joint Consultative Council (JCC), the body representing employee interests.

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“For some time, staff representatives through the JCC had called on management to approve the early exit package for all cadres. Following these discussions, management decided to meet this popular demand,” Mrs. Sidi Ali said.

She further addressed concerns over potential repercussions for employees who decline the offer, emphasizing that these worries are unfounded.

“Management is committed to supporting employees’ professional growth and well-being,” she stated. “This initiative is an internal corporate matter designed to promote career development for staff.”

The clarification from the CBN comes amid growing questions surrounding the implementation of the Early Exit Package, which was previously available only to the executive cadre.

In a historic moment for the global art world, Koyo Kouoh, the esteemed Cameroonian curator, has been appointed the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world.

At 57 years old, Kouoh will oversee the 2026 edition of the biennale, making her mark in the 130-year-old institution that draws hundreds of thousands of art lovers to Venice every two years.

Kouoh, who has served as the director of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town since 2019, was hailed by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the Biennale, as a “curator, scholar, and influential public figure.”

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He emphasized that Kouoh’s leadership would bring a fresh and dynamic vision to the event, incorporating the “most refined, young, and disruptive intelligences” into the iconic exhibition.

Before her role at Zeitz MOCAA, Kouoh founded the RAW Material Company in Dakar, Senegal, and has long been a prominent figure in the Pan-African art scene.

Raised between Douala, Cameroon, and Switzerland, her global perspective has shaped her curatorial approach. Kouoh’s work in Cape Town has been groundbreaking, focusing on bold programs that highlight artists from Africa and its diaspora.

Describing her appointment as a “once-in-a-lifetime honour,” Kouoh expressed her ambition to bring forward a show that “carries meaning for the world we currently live in—and most importantly, for the world we want to make.”

She sees the Venice Biennale as a unique opportunity to reflect on the pulse of the contemporary world and address pressing global issues through art.

Kouoh’s Pan-African vision extends beyond the boundaries of the continent, challenging traditional ideas of identity and geography.

She has been vocal in her belief that African culture spans far beyond Africa itself, calling America “another African country” and linking Brazil, Cuba, and Haiti to the African diaspora.

“Africa is for me an idea that goes beyond borders. It’s a history that goes beyond borders,” she has said, emphasizing the significance of black culture and its global impact.

Kouoh follows in the footsteps of the late Nigerian art critic Okwui Enwezor, who made history as the first African to curate the Venice Biennale in 2015.

Her appointment reflects a growing recognition of the influence of African and diasporic art on the global stage.

The Biennale’s announcement follows Kouoh’s recommendation by Buttafuoco, a Sicilian intellectual appointed to lead the Venice board with support from Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.