INEC Chairman Calls for Stronger Regional Collaboration at ECONEC General Assembly in Gambia

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The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in the West African region to foster stronger collaboration to bolster democratic governance. Prof. Yakubu made this appeal during the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in Banjul, Gambia.

The high-level meeting, attended by EMB chairpersons and vice-chairpersons from 11 ECOWAS member states, focused on reviewing and adopting a revised draft of ECONEC statutes. A key highlight on the agenda was the proposal for Africa’s first-ever electoral resource-sharing database—an innovative step towards enhancing collaboration and capacity-building on the continent.

Speaking to his peers, Prof. Yakubu, who is attending the ECONEC Assembly for the last time as INEC Chairman, reflected on his tenure and the collective achievements of the Network.

“We must deepen our collaboration as Election Management Bodies to advance democratic governance and strengthen electoral integrity across our region,” he remarked. He also expressed gratitude for the support he received during his leadership of the ECONEC Steering Committee and applauded the commitment of the current leadership in sustaining the Network’s relevance.

Prof. Yakubu reminisced on the positive strides made at ECONEC’s 2017 meeting in Sierra Leone, where he had celebrated that all countries in the sub-region were under democratic rule. However, he lamented that, as of today, four West African nations no longer practice democracy. Despite this setback, he expressed optimism, saying, “We remain hopeful that democracy will soon be restored in these nations.”

The INEC Chairman further expressed his appreciation to colleagues for their solidarity throughout his tenure, which is set to end later this year. “Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment to the values of electoral integrity and regional unity,” he said, calling on them to continue working together to uphold democratic principles.

Heads of several EMBs echoed his sentiments, commending ECONEC’s contributions to sustaining democracy in West Africa. They highlighted the Network’s technical assistance and its pivotal role in reinforcing democratic institutions in their respective countries.

While in Banjul, Prof. Yakubu is scheduled to accompany ECONEC President, Mr. Konneh Mohamed Kenewui of Sierra Leone, on a series of visits to key stakeholders, including The Gambian government, as part of ECONEC’s Needs Assessment Mission ahead of the country’s 2026 presidential election.

The Extraordinary General Assembly also served as a platform to honor past members of ECONEC for their dedication to strengthening electoral processes across Africa.

StreetReporters.ng

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