…As ECONEC’s General Assembly Holds in Gambia
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called for stronger collaboration among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in the West African sub-region, emphasizing that such cooperation is essential for deepening democratic governance across the region.
A statement issued in Abuja on Friday said Prof. Yakubu made the call in Banjul, the capital of the Republic of Gambia, where he attended the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC).
According to the statement, key items on the agenda included the review and adoption of a revised draft of the ECONEC statutes, as well as the creation of Africa’s first-ever electoral resource-sharing database aimed at enhancing collaboration and capacity-building across the continent.
Prof. Yakubu, who previously served as President of the ECONEC Steering Committee, expressed appreciation for the support he received during his tenure. He also paid tribute to past members of the Network for their contributions to strengthening democratic institutions across Africa. Additionally, he commended the current leadership for their commitment to keeping the Network vibrant and relevant.
Reflecting on ECONEC’s 2017 meeting in Sierra Leone, Prof. Yakubu recalled with pride that all countries in the sub-region were then under democratic rule. Unfortunately, he noted, that is no longer the case, as four nations have since deviated from democratic governance. However, he expressed optimism that democracy would soon return to those affected countries.
Prof. Yakubu also announced that this would be his last ECONEC meeting as INEC Chairman, with his tenure set to end later this year. He thanked his colleagues and the Network for their unwavering support and urged them to continue promoting electoral integrity and regional unity.
During the meeting, several heads of EMBs echoed the call for enhanced regional collaboration. They also lauded ECONEC for its continued technical assistance to member countries and its crucial role in sustaining democratic governance across West Africa.
The Extraordinary General Assembly brought together the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of EMBs from Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
While in Banjul, Prof. Yakubu was scheduled to join the current ECONEC President, Mr. Konneh Mohamed Kenewui of Sierra Leone, on visits to key stakeholders, including representatives of the Gambian government, as part of ECONEC’s Needs Assessment Mission ahead of the country’s 2026 presidential election.