The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have commenced a post-election review and needs assessment mission, two years after Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
Welcoming the ECOWAS delegation to the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, praised the regional body’s consistent efforts to strengthen democratic processes across West Africa.
“It is a pleasure to welcome our distinguished guests from ECONEC, who are here to follow up on the implementation of recommendations made by the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission after the 2023 general elections held in February and March,” Yakubu said.
He particularly acknowledged the presence of the Chairperson of Liberia’s National Elections Commission, Mrs. Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, who led the delegation, and Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chair of Ghana’s Electoral Commission. Also in attendance were ECONEC Acting Permanent Secretary Serigne Mamadou Ka and other international electoral experts.
Prof. Yakubu revealed that ECOWAS had issued 37 recommendations following the 2023 elections, 13 of which were specifically directed at INEC, while the remaining 24 were aimed at various institutions including the National Assembly, Nigeria Police Force, National Broadcasting Commission, NITDA, civil society groups, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and political parties.
He noted that INEC had taken steps to implement all recommendations within its administrative authority, while awaiting legislative action on those requiring legal reforms.
“We have prepared a comprehensive response to each of the recommendations. These have been made available to the delegation both online and in hard copy,” he added, expressing appreciation for the support of international partners such as EISA, IDEA, and GIZ.
Prof. Yakubu assured the delegation of INEC’s commitment to continuous improvement of Nigeria’s electoral system through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Responding, Mrs. Browne-Lansanah described the mission as a peer-learning initiative aimed at assessing the implementation of ECOWAS recommendations and learning from Nigeria’s electoral experiences.
“This visit is not only to assess how INEC has acted on our recommendations, but also to gather lessons that can benefit election management bodies across the region,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of shared experiences and collaboration in improving electoral systems, noting that challenges faced in one country often mirror those faced elsewhere in West Africa.
Browne-Lansanah also expressed gratitude for INEC’s support to Liberia’s electoral system, especially through material donations that helped establish an ICT facility at Liberia’s National Elections Commission.
“Thanks to INEC’s generosity and support through ECONEC, we now have an ICT room that is central to our operations. This is the kind of regional cooperation we must continue to build on,” she said.
She concluded by calling for stronger partnerships and shared expertise among electoral bodies to ensure credible and resilient democratic processes across the subregion.
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