Former chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observers Mission in Liberia, Prof Attahiru Jega, has urged political actors and stakeholders involved in the Liberian presidential run-off to adhere to the rule of law and fair play. Jega emphasized the importance of a peaceful, free, transparent, and credible electoral process during his meetings with various actors, including the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, the President of the National Electoral Commission, civil society actors, and the ECOWAS Technical Team.
Jega also addressed the ECOWAS observers, urging them to carry out their tasks within the confines of the electoral legal frameworks and international standards. He emphasized the need for the observers to avoid interfering in the electoral process and to utilize the skills and tools acquired through their training. Jega encouraged the observers to provide recommendations to improve the electoral process and the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission.
The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, briefed the observers on the conditions under which the polls would be held. The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security of ECOWAS, Abdel-Fatau Musah, expressed satisfaction with the profile of the observers and charged them to remain objective in their observation of the exercise.
Attahiru Jega, who is also the chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leads the ECOWAS observer team deployed to monitor Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections. The team consists of experienced personalities from all over the West African sub-region, ensuring a well-composed team of experts with a deep understanding of democratization and elections. Their mandate is to witness the elections and report on the extent to which they are free, fair, and credible.
Jega expressed confidence in the preparations made by Liberia’s electoral body for the elections. He emphasized the importance of all leading contenders urging their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and in a manner that ensures the success of free and fair elections. Jega highlighted the opportunity for Liberians to choose good leaders who can lead the country towards democratic and economic development.