By Atoyebi Nike
Former Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to lead the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission ahead of the country’s October 25 presidential election.
According to an ECOWAS statement on Tuesday, the deployment underscores the bloc’s commitment to peace, stability, and democratic governance under its 2001 Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Osinbajo heads a team of 187 ECOWAS observers, including 150 short-term, 15 long-term, and 22 young observers, supported by 66 additional observers from the African Union.
He was received in Abidjan by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, and Fanta Cissé, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire.
Expressing gratitude, Osinbajo said he was “honoured to lead this important mission” and expressed hope that the election process would be peaceful and aligned with regional and international democratic standards.
The upcoming vote is expected to be closely watched across the region, as incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, seeks a fourth term in office amid growing calls for political renewal.
