ECOWAS looks up to Nigeria for democracy, and INEC for inspiration
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
“INEC has become an inspiration to other countries in the region,” said Giovanie Biha, head of Delegation and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Officer in Charge of UNOWAS.
There is a lot to do in deepening democratic governance in ECOWAS, hence the success of Nigeria’s vote is crucial, he stressed at a meeting of United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
However, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu repeated warning it is impossible to conduct elections and electoral activities successfully in an atmosphere of violence.
He said electoral commissions in West Africa and beyond have expressed concern over the impact of insecurity on elections, banditry, and other forms of armed conflict.
Because of this, he added, a conference of electoral commissions and election experts will hold this week in Ouagadougou, involving host Burkina Faso and Benin Republic, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo from West Africa; as well as the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo from Central Africa.
“These are critical conditions for peace. Election management bodies are major beneficiaries of your work. This is because elections and electoral activities cannot be successfully conducted in an atmosphere of violence,” Yakubu stressed.
“For this reason, INEC always appreciates the role of UNOWAS in our sub-region and the Sahel.”
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Impact of insecurity on elections
“At different fora, electoral commissions in West Africa and beyond have expressed concern about the impact of prevailing insecurity on the conduct of elections, particularly with regard to insurgency, banditry, and other forms of armed conflict.
“Nigeria will be making two presentations at the conference,” Yakubu said, per The Guardian.
“We believe that your visit today will not only encourage us in our determination to conduct credible, transparent, inclusive, and verifiable elections but we will also share the outcome of our discussion with colleagues from other electoral commissions in West Africa and beyond.
“Since you arrived in Nigeria, we have followed your engagements with stakeholders. In particular, we appreciate your fervent appeal for support to the efforts of INEC to conduct peaceful elections.
“With just 81 days to the 2023 general election, we have made tremendous progress in our preparations so far.”
Yakubu reiterated this is the seventh consecutive general election since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.
“We are aware of the importance of our elections to Nigeria, our sub-region and the world. We assure you that the Commission will not fail the nation and the international community.
“We will continue to make incremental improvement to our electoral process supported by the deployment of appropriate and relevant technology that will make voter accreditation and result management more credible and transparent.”
