The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in line with its Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and other relevant international norms and standards, has deployed seventy five (75) members to observe the run-off Presidential Election in Niger, which is scheduled to hold on Sunday, 20th March, 2016.
Image: Issoufou Mahamadou, President of Niger, answers a question from a student in the audience following a speech at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
H. E. Professor Amos Sawyer, Head of the ECOWAS Election Observer Mission to the Run-off Presidential Election in Niger and Former President of the Interim Government of National Unity in Liberia, while briefing the Election Observers in Niamey, Niger before their deployment to various regions, commended the efforts of the Observers in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process during the first round of the Presidential election.
Professor Sawyer who said he was confident that the Observers will commit to the same standards as the first round of elections told them to conduct themselves in a way that is credible, transparent and impartial bearing in mind that elections should be seen as a process and not an event.
The Head of Mission (HoM), Prof. Sawyer also applauded the commitment, efforts and contributions of ECOWAS Commission to ensure a peaceful conclusion of the electoral process in Niger and its resolve and commitment towards promoting democracy and good governance in the region.
The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Edward Singhatey, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H. E. Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, earlier in his welcome remarks thanked the Observers for their support towards democratic processes across the region by accepting to be part of the ECOWAS Observer Mission to the Run-off Nigerien Presidential election.
He congratulated the Observers for the professionalism and neutrality they demonstrated during the first round election.
Similarly, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, the Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission in her introductory remarks commended all the political actors and electoral stakeholders for their fortitude in ensuring the peace and continuity of the electoral process, and also thanked the Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendente (CENI) for taking up its responsibility in ensuring the fairness of the process despite the huge challenges it faced.
She thanked the good people of Niger and wished them the very best as they go to the polls once again in fulfillment of their constitutional duties of deciding their future.
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