MONROVIA, Liberia – Ahead of Nigeria’s Presidential and National Assembly elections today, the Head of ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM), former Liberian president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Friday urged Nigerians, particularly the political class, to sustain the peace that characterized the postponement of pools earlier slated for last Saturday, 16 February.
Sirleaf wants Nigerians to also conduct themselves according to the laws of that country as they go to the polls today.
She assured Nigerians of the support of the continent as Nigeria goes to the poll to elect a new president for the next four years, stating that ECOWAS watched with keen interest the manner in which both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the people of Nigeria handled the postponement of the elections last week.
The elections of the President and national lawmakers was postponed to February 23 due to logistic challenges encountered by INEC.
Speaking at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Head of the ECOWAS EOM, Sirleaf, while commending Nigerians for the patience and calm exhibited up till now, said that the progress made by the Commission signaled a “deepening and budding of confidence in the electoral processes”.
“We extend thanks, admiration and gratitude to the Nigerian people for their patience in the face of the last minute interruptions to their lives with the postponement of the 2019 general election,” the former Liberian leader stressed.
“We have watched the progress of INEC over the past week working together with domestic and international partners in addressing their logistical and technical challenges,” she further stated, adding, “We are pleased that these operational constraints have been significantly addressed thus creating a conducive atmosphere for tomorrow’s general elections.”
“We commend our brothers and sisters across the length and breadth of this great country for remaining calm and resilient as these concerns were addressed,” she emphasized.
Sirleaf described the signing of the 2019 Peace Accord by Nigeria’s various political actors as a further demonstration of the commitment of the country to democracy.
She expressed confidence that the same level of maturity would be demonstrated during the remaining phase of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Source: This Day
