INEC Chairman calls for stronger regional collaboration, as ECONEC’s General Assembly begins in Gambia

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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.

Prof. Yakubu made this call on Thursday in Banjul, capital of the Republic of Gambia, where he is attending the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC).

Working more closely together, he argued, is key to deepening democratic governance across the region.

Speaking to his fellow electoral Commissioners, Prof. Yakubu, who previously served as President of the ECONEC Steering Committee, expressed gratitude for the support he received during his tenure.

Among other items listed on the agenda, member countries will review and adopt a revised draft of the ECONEC statutes at the meeting.

One of the significant proposals for consideration at the meeting is the creation of Africa’s first-ever electoral resource-sharing database, an innovative move aimed at boosting collaboration and capacity-building across the continent.

Speaking to his fellow electoral commissioners, Prof. Yakubu, who previously served as president of the ECONEC Steering Committee, expressed gratitude for the support he received during his tenure.

He also took a moment to honour past members of the Network who contributed to strengthening democratic institutions not just in their home countries but across Africa. He praised the current leadership for their commitment and dedication in keeping the Network active and relevant.

Looking back on ECONEC’s 2017 meeting in Sierra Leone, Prof. Yakubu recalled how he had proudly announced that every country in the sub-region was under democratic rule.

Sadly however, he observed, that was no longer the case. He regretted that today, four countries in the region are no longer practicing democracy. Notwithstanding, Prof. Yakubu remains optimistic and expressed the hope that democracy would soon return to the affected nations.

He also informed the Assembly that he was attending the ECONEC meeting for the final time as Chairman of INEC, because his tenure ends later this year. He thanked his colleagues and the Network as a whole for their unwavering support and collaboration over the years, urging them to continue upholding the values of electoral integrity and regional unity.

Several EMB heads also added their voices to the call for deeper regional collaboration. In their individual remarks, they applauded ECONEC for its continued technical support to their respective countries and its vital role in sustaining democratic governance across West Africa.

The Extraordinary General Assembly drew together the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the EMBs from the Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

While in Banjul, Prof. Yakubu is also scheduled to join the current ECONEC President, Mr. Konneh Mohamed Kenewui of Sierra Leone, for a series of visits to key stakeholders, including the government of The Gambia as part of ECONEC’s Needs Assessment Mission ahead of the country’s presidential election in 2026.