ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Nigeria has advocated for more consultations between political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for a successful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Leader of the mission and former Chairman, Ghana Electoral Commission, Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, made the call at its meeting with national leaders of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, an umbrella body of registered political parties in Nigeria.
He viewed dialogue as an important mechanism to successful elections, and advised political parties to work with INEC to ensure that the elections were credible and successful.
Afari-Gyan also told leaders of the political parties that in Ghana, where he was chairman of the electoral body for many years, a lot of innovations were brought-in through agreements and suggestions by political parties.
The Leader, while responding to issues raised by IPAC members on violence and vote buying, advised political parties to play by the rules and allow citizens to choose freely at the 2023 elections. In his remarks, IPAC National Chairman, Yabagi Sani lauded ECOWAS for showing commitment to credible elections in Nigeria, noting that with the presence of the ECOWAS delegation in Nigeria some of the concerns regarding the 2023 general elections would be addressed
