Nigeria’s election key to Africa’s future – ECOWAS

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has said that Nigeria must get it right for the sake of the entire African continent.

The commission, therefore, said it was concerned about the success of the poll due to Nigeria’s influence in the region and Africa as a whole.

Director, Political Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Remi Ajibewa, stated this on Monday in Abuja when a delegation of ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact Finding Mission to Nigeria led by Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Chairman, Electoral Commission of Ghana, visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.

Ajibewa said that they were in Nigeria for fact-finding ahead of the country’s 2023 general elections in line with ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol 2021 to observe elections in Nigeria.

According to him, Article 11, 12, and 13 of the protocol mandated the commission to deploy an electoral fact-finding mission to every member state of ECOWAS that were about to conduct the election, especially the presidential election.

He added that the delegation’s visit to Nigeria was not the first time as that was done during other previous elections in the country, including the 2019 general elections.

He said that ECOWAS looks forward to successful and credible elections in West African countries especially Nigeria in 2023 given the leadership role the country played in the subregion.

He said, “We all know the importance Nigeria hoods holds, given the fact that, as they used to say, if Nigeria sneezes, the whole West Africa catches cold and we don’t pray that will be the result. So, we are here to listen to you, to see the area of challenges that we might also report.”

Responding, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured the ECOWAS delegation that Nigeria’s 2023 general elections will be technology-driven to enhance the success of the election.

“Let me restate the commitment of INEC Nigeria to free, fair, and credible elections driven by technology. The 2023 general election in Nigeria will be driven by technology not only as a matter of legal requirement but also as a matter of course, for us in the commission.

“So, I want to ensure the ECOWAS team that we are committed to delivering a credible election in the next four months and a few days, which will be Nigeria’s seventh successive elections, since the restoration of democracy in 1999,” Yakubu said.

The INEC boss also said that in demonstration of INEC openness and the ritual of receiving international observers, the commission had invited international organisations across the world to come and observe Nigeria 2023 general elections.

“ECOWAS has demonstrated that seriousness and commitment to ensuring that we get right electoral in this region in the next few weeks, I’m sure many more organizations will come. Election Observation is an important part of ensuring transparency and credibility in elections.

“We have always benefited from the insight of election observation missions. For instance, you are here on fact-finding we’ll hear from you what we have found so far, which will help us in in concluding our preparations for the election.”