The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has chosen Nigeria’s former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to head its election observation team for Côte d’Ivoire’s upcoming presidential election.

The election is set for October 25, and Osinbajo’s team will be on ground from October 19 to 29 to monitor events before, during, and after the polls. ECOWAS said in a statement on Sunday that the move is part of its ongoing efforts to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections across the West African region.

As the head of the mission, Osinbajo will lead a group made up of respected individuals from different West African countries. Their main task will be to meet with political leaders, election officials, and civil society groups in Côte d’Ivoire. The goal, ECOWAS said, is to help promote calm and build confidence among voters and politicians as the election approaches.

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The election observers are also expected to work closely with other international and local monitoring organizations to assess how well the election is conducted. This collaboration, according to ECOWAS, will help strengthen trust in the democratic process and encourage transparency in the vote counting and results announcement stages.

ECOWAS emphasized that sending the mission shows its “strong commitment to peace, stability, and credible elections” in the region. The organization has played similar roles in other West African countries in the past, helping to reduce election-related violence and disputes.

Côte d’Ivoire’s election is drawing global attention because it comes at a sensitive time for the country’s democracy. President Alassane Ouattara, who is 83 years old, has announced plans to seek a fourth term in office a decision that has stirred controversy.

Many Ivorians recall that Ouattara previously promised to step down after completing his current term. His change of mind has sparked debates over constitutional limits on presidential terms and raised concerns about the future of democratic transition in the country.

Tensions have been rising, with opposition groups accusing the government of trying to hold onto power. Analysts fear that the political climate could become unstable if the election process is not seen as fair and transparent.

That is why ECOWAS’ presence, led by Osinbajo, is being viewed as a timely and important step. The mission is expected to help calm fears, encourage dialogue among political rivals, and reassure voters that their voices will count.

Osinbajo, who served as Nigeria’s vice president from 2015 to 2023, is widely respected across Africa for his calm leadership style and experience in governance. His appointment is seen as a sign of confidence from ECOWAS in his ability to guide the observation team effectively and foster peace during the tense election period.
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The mission will release a report after the polls, assessing how the election was conducted and recommending steps to strengthen democracy in Côte d’Ivoire and across the West African region.