Ahead of Nigeria’s general elections; Presidential and Parliamentary of February 25, 2023 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is ready to observe the election as preparation are far advanced.
According to the Chairman of the Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. the parliament is in touch with the ECOWAS long term observers and they have an advance team which is being coordinated by the Secretary General John Azumah.
In a telephone interview with Ghanamps.com at his base in Liberia, Senator Snowe noted that he would be joining the team next week Tuesday, February 21, 2023; and as head of the Parliamentary delegation for the Nigerian election observation he noted that eight (8) of his colleagues lawmakers are part of the team.
“We are monitoring the situation there and working with the ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we are hopeful that we can have a peaceful election in Nigeria”, he said.
Furthermore, on the preparation towards the upcoming Liberia’s general election this year, he pointed out that the ECOWAS Commission would be in Liberia this week to have an assessment of Liberia’s preparedness for their upcoming election.
And in May of this year, the ECOWAS Parliament would be in Liberia for a fact finding mission to do an assessment on Liberia’s preparedness for the election, and June 2023 Committees on Political Affairs and Legal would have a delocalized meeting in Liberia.
It would be centered on Liberia’s preparedness for its election, as ECOWAS would have long and short term observer mission that would be going to Liberia for its elections.
Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr
In the case of Sierra Leone, which also has a general election this year, Chairman Snowe pointed out that, there is a mission of the Parliament in mid March 2023 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Female Parliamentary Association (ECOFEPA) which would be having a big symposium and the Speaker has mandated the Political Affairs Committee to spend some time there within that period to see Sierra Leone’s preparedness for the elections.
Again, in May 2023, they have a mission there to check on the final preparation of the elections in June 2023, as they would be there to observe the elections as well.
And as they plan for the Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, they are putting in place plans to addressing issues of run offs. “We have our team prepared to visit those countries or be a part of the run off process”, he stated.
Source: Ghanamps.com