Jega and 95 Experts
The short-term observers representing ECOWAS hail from various institutions, including the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, the ECOWAS Parliament, the Community Court of Justice, Member States’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs, electoral management bodies, and civil society organisations.
Prof. Attahiru Jega, the distinguished former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC), has landed in Monrovia to lead the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) for Liberia’s upcoming presidential, senatorial, and parliamentary elections scheduled for Tuesday, 10 October 2023.
According to a statement by ECOWAS’s Harouna Hamidou Mayaki, of the Directorate of Communication of the ECOWAS Commission, made available to AkweyaTV, the mission is, “In accordance with the provisions of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance relating to the observation of elections and ECOWAS assistance,” and in this instance ECOWAS has deployed 95 experts, “comprising 80 short-term observers and 17 long-term observers.”
The short-term observers representing ECOWAS hail from various institutions, including the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, the ECOWAS Parliament, the Community Court of Justice, Member States’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs, electoral management bodies, and civil society organisations.
Warm Welcome
Prof. Attahiru Jega arrived in the Liberian capital on Monday, 2 October 2023, and received a warm welcome from Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia.
Jega’s Itinerary
During his visit, the head of the ECOWAS EOM, along with his team, will engage in working sessions with various stakeholders. These include the National Elections Commission (NEC), government representatives, civil society organisations, members of the media, security agencies, political parties, and candidates.
These discussions aim to ensure the smooth and transparent conduct of Liberia’s crucial electoral process.
2.5 Million Voters
A significant number of voters are expected to participate in these elections, with approximately 2,471,617 voters out of Liberia’s total population of 5.4 million gearing up to cast their ballots. This election will determine Liberia’s new President, fifteen Senators, and seventy-three members of the House of Representatives.
Jega’s Headship Underscores importance of Elections to ECOWAS
The primary responsibility of the West African election observation mission deployed to Liberia is to closely monitor all aspects of the electoral process. This includes pre-electoral preparations, election day activities, and the post-electoral phase. Their presence aims to ensure that the electoral proceedings adhere to international best practices and uphold democratic principles.
The arrival of Prof. Attahiru Jega and the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission underscores the importance of free and fair elections in the region and reaffirms ECOWAS’s commitment to supporting democratic processes across West Africa. As Liberia approaches this critical juncture in its democratic journey, all eyes will be on the country, with hopes for a transparent and peaceful electoral exercise.
Speaking during an interview, Jega admitted that there are concerns about security and deployment of materials to some areas. “All stakeholders have a responsibility” to create a process that has integrity, he said. Liberians need to recognise that they have had 20 years of democracy to protect in the face of the coups in many West African region.
