Former Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to lead the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 25.
According to a statement released by ECOWAS on Tuesday, Osinbajo’s leadership of the mission aligns with the regional body’s 2001 Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The mission, the statement said, underscores ECOWAS’ continued commitment to promoting peace, stability, and democracy across West Africa.
Okay News reports that Osinbajo is heading a 187-member ECOWAS delegation, which includes long-term and short-term election observers. Additionally, 66 observers from the African Union are also participating in the monitoring process.
Supporting Osinbajo on the mission are Baboucarr Blaise Ismaïla Jagne, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, and Mahamat Saleh Annadif, former Foreign Minister of Chad. The team also includes 150 short-term observers, 22 young participants from the ECOWAS youth integration programme, and 15 long-term experts who began work earlier in October to monitor pre-election developments.
Upon arrival, Osinbajo was warmly received by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Fanta Cissé, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire.
Speaking at the event, Osinbajo expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his belief in peaceful democratic processes. “It’s an honour to lead this mission to such a welcoming and peaceful nation. We are hopeful that the elections will reflect the will of the people and uphold democratic principles,” he stated.
The presidential election is expected to be closely watched across the region as President Alassane Ouattara, now 83, seeks a controversial fourth term in office.
