The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has named Yemi Osinbajo, former vice president, as the head of its election observation mission to Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the October 25 presidential election.
In a statement released on Sunday, ECOWAS announced that the mission will be deployed from October 19 to 29, in accordance with its supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance.
As mission leader, Osinbajo will head a delegation of distinguished West Africans to engage with key national actors and support efforts toward a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process in the Francophone nation.
The regional body noted that the mission will collaborate with international and domestic observer teams to monitor the elections and help bolster public confidence in the democratic process.
ECOWAS emphasized that the deployment reflects its “unwavering commitment to promoting peace, stability, and credible elections” across the West African region.
High-Stakes Poll Amid Rising Political Tension
The upcoming October 25 election comes at a sensitive moment for Côte d’Ivoire’s political landscape. President Alassane Ouattara, aged 83, is pursuing a fourth term in office, despite earlier assurances that he would step down after completing his current mandate.
His decision has reignited political tension and stirred fresh debate on term limits and democratic transition within the country.