ECOWAS COMMISSION COMMISSION DE LA CEDEAO COMISSÃO DA CEDEAO
Abuja, Nigeria, 27th February 2023
I. INTRODUCTION
- In conformity with the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Independent National Electoral Commission Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, the Nigerian electorate was called to the polls on 25th February 2023 to elect the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and members of the Senate and the National Assembly.
- Pursuant to the provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance (2001), His Excellency Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as part of ECOWAS support to the consolidation of the democratic processes in the country.
- The EOM was led by myself, Ernest Bai KOROMA, former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and deputized by His Excellency Baba Kamara, former National Security Adviser of the Republic of Ghana. The EOM also comprised officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of ECOWAS Member States, experts from the Electoral Commissions of ECOWAS Member States; delegations of the ECOWAS Parliament, the Community Court of Justice, and the ECOWAS Council of the Wise; Ambassadors of ECOWAS Member States accredited to ECOWAS, Media Experts and Members of Civil Society.
- The Mission was supported by a Technical Team from the ECOWAS Commission led by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
ECOWAS COMMISSION COMMISSION DE LA CEDEAO COMISSÃO DA CEDEAO
PRELIMINARY DECLARATION
Abuja, Nigeria, 27th February 2023
II. COMMITMENTS AND SUPPORT TO THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
- In keeping with the provisions of Articles 42(2) and 44(b) of the 1999 ECOWAS Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security, Article 12 of the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and Article 53(c) of the 2008 ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, the ECOWAS Commission deployed a Pre-election Fact-finding Mission to the six (6) geopolitical zones of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 23rd October to 12th November 2022.
- ECOWAS followed up on most of the recommendations made by the Pre-Electoral Fact-Finding Mission to ensure their implementation by the concerned Nigerian institutions and stakeholders. In this regard, ECOWAS organised dialogue and mediation training sessions, and consultative engagements on non-violent elections for political actors and relevant stakeholders from November 2022 to January 2023 across the six geopolitical zones, as tools for preventing and mitigating election-related conflicts and disputes.
- To effectively monitor and observe the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the ECOWAS Commission deployed a Core Team of 13 Thirteen (13) Experts, Twelve (12) Long-Term and Two Hundred and Fifty (250) Short-Term Observers to cover the pre-election, Election Day and post-election phases in the six geopolitical zones.