WorldStage Newsonline– The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called for stronger ties and deeper collaboration among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in the West African sub-region to enhance democratic governance.
Making this call in Banjul, capital of the Republic of Gambia, while attending the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), Prof. Yakubu emphasized that closer cooperation among EMBs is crucial to strengthening democratic institutions across the region.
A key agenda item at the meeting was the review and adoption of a revised draft of the ECONEC statutes.
Notably, the Assembly was considering the establishment of Africa’s first electoral resource-sharing database—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and building capacity across the continent.
Addressing fellow electoral commissioners, Prof. Yakubu who previously served as ECONEC Steering Committee President expressed gratitude for the support received during his tenure and paid tribute to past members who contributed significantly to democratic development in Africa.
He also lauded the current leadership for their dedication in maintaining the Network’s vibrancy and relevance.
Reflecting on the 2017 ECONEC meeting in Sierra Leone, he recalled announcing that all countries in the region were under democratic governance. Unfortunately, he noted that it was no longer the case, as four nations had since deviated from democratic rule.
Despite this setback, he expressed hope that democracy would soon return to those countries.
Prof. Yakubu informed the Assembly that this would be his final ECONEC meeting as INEC Chairman, with his tenure set to end later this year.
He thanked his colleagues and the network for their steadfast support and urged them to continue championing electoral integrity and regional unity.
Other EMB heads echoed his call for enhanced cooperation, commending ECONEC for its vital technical support and its instrumental role in sustaining democracy across West Africa.
The Assembly brought together 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 accompany ECONEC President Mr. Konneh Mohamed Kenewui of Sierra Leone on visits to key stakeholders, including the Gambian government, as part of a Needs Assessment Mission ahead of the country’s 2026 presidential election.
