The chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu has announced open invitation to interested international organisations across the world for observation of 2023 general elections.
He made the call when he received the delegation of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Pre-Election Fact Finding Mission to Nigeria which was led by the former Chairman, of the Electoral Commission of Ghana Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan
He said that INEC has always benefited from the insight of election observation missions as it is an important part of ensuring transparency and credibility in elections.
He maintained that he looks forward to receiving reports at the end of the fact finding because it will help in concluding preparations for the election.
The chairman assured that the 2023 general elections will be technology driven not only as a matter of legal requirement but the commitment of INEC to free, fair and credible elections.
“So, I want to assure 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,’’ he said.
The INEC boss stressed the need to restore democratic government in all West African countries including Mali, Burkina and Guinea.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation,
the director of political affairs, at the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Remi 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 listen and know the areas of challenges that need to be worked on.
He said that 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 election, especially presidential election.
He said that in the cause of being in Nigeria, there would be visits first to ECOWAS Commission to brief the head of mission, ministry of foreign affairs, the six geopolitical zones of the country, resident electoral commissioners, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, political parties, media and the bar association.
He pointed out that the delegation's visitation 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 because of the leadership role of the country in the sub-region.
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