INEC and ECOWAS Review 2023 Elections and Share Key Lessons

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently hosted a delegation from the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) in Abuja for a comprehensive post-election review. This visit, which came two years after Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, was aimed at assessing how well Nigeria implemented ECOWAS recommendations and to gather lessons that could benefit other West African countries.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the delegation and praised ECOWAS for its continuous support in strengthening electoral systems across the region. He expressed gratitude to Mrs. Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, Chairperson of the National Elections Commission of Liberia, who led the mission, along with Ghana’s Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Bossman Asare.

Prof. Yakubu revealed that ECOWAS had issued 37 recommendations after observing the 2023 elections. Of these, 13 were directed specifically at INEC, while the remaining 24 targeted other key stakeholders such as the National Assembly, the Nigerian Police Force, the National Broadcasting Commission, NITDA, civil society groups, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and political parties.

Yakubu noted that INEC had taken administrative action on the recommendations within its power and was awaiting the National Assembly’s legal review on others that required legislative backing. He emphasized that INEC had provided both digital and hard copies of its responses to the ECONEC team to ensure transparency and facilitate further discussions.

He also acknowledged the contribution of international development partners including EISA, International IDEA, and the German agency GIZ. These partners supported the visit and offered technical assistance, reflecting a shared commitment to improving democratic systems in West Africa.

Responding to Yakubu’s remarks, Mrs. Browne-Lansanah described the mission as a valuable learning experience not only for Nigeria but for the entire West African region. She explained that the delegation came to evaluate how INEC handled the ECOWAS recommendations and addressed the challenges experienced during the elections. According to her, many issues that affect Nigeria’s electoral process are common across other countries in the region.

She also commended INEC for its support to Liberia, highlighting how Nigeria’s election body had provided technical assistance, including the donation of equipment that led to the establishment of a new ICT room in Liberia. She stressed that such regional cooperation under ECONEC had helped boost the capacities of electoral commissions across West Africa.

In her closing remarks, Browne-Lansanah underscored the importance of learning from each other and using shared experiences to build stronger, more sustainable electoral systems. She applauded Nigeria’s electoral commission for its openness and collaboration, stating that the insights gained from Nigeria’s elections would help shape better practices across the ECOWAS region.

This post-election review is part of a larger initiative to ensure that lessons from past elections are not lost but used to improve future democratic processes. The commitment from both INEC and ECOWAS highlights a shared vision for credible, transparent, and inclusive elections across West Africa.

Tips and Recommendations:

• ECOWAS member states should continue cross-learning from each other’s electoral experiences.
• National legislatures should prioritize implementing election-related reforms based on observer mission recommendations.
• Regional partnerships like ECONEC must be strengthened to boost democracy and electoral credibility across West Africa.