The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) has dispatched an election mission to Monrovia in preparation for Liberia’s elections on October 10, 2023,leadership reports.
This information was conveyed in a statement issued by Wealth Dickson Ominabo, the communications officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the former president, who leads the mission, departed from Abuja for Monrovia yesterday afternoon.
Accompanying Dr. Jonathan on this mission are Kadre Ouedraogo, a former prime minister of Burkina Faso and former president of ECOWAS, as well as members of the WAEF secretariat.
The purpose of their presence is to observe the election proceedings, extend their support for a peaceful conclusion, and contribute to the consolidation of democracy in Liberia, drawing from their extensive experience as former leaders in the sub-region.
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The team will engage with key stakeholders, including President George Weah, who is seeking re-election, opposition leaders, the electoral management body, and security authorities.
The WAEF mission is scheduled to remain in Liberia for approximately ten days. During their stay, they will visit polling stations in Monrovia to observe Election Day procedures and the result collation process, remaining actively involved until the results are officially announced.
Ann Iyonu, the executive director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation and head of the WAEF secretariat, stated that the mission will hold consultations with candidates, election managers, observer missions, and other significant actors to ensure a peaceful and successful electoral outcome.
She emphasized that the WAEF mission’s role is to provide advisory, mediation, and conflict resolution support to political leaders in the sub-region and assured that the members will stay in Liberia until the election process concludes peacefully.
The mission’s activities in Liberia will be guided by the collective experience and wisdom of its members, who, as former presidents and leaders in the sub-region, have managed elections and facilitated successful conflict resolution and peace processes.
Similarly, Prof. Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC), is leading the short-term ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) for Liberia’s presidential, senatorial, and parliamentary elections scheduled for October 10, 2023.
Prof. Jega has arrived in Monrovia, where he was warmly welcomed by Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, the ECOWAS resident representative to Liberia.
During their stay, Prof. Jega and his team will conduct working sessions with various stakeholders, including the National Elections Commission (NEC), government officials, civil society organizations, the media, security agencies, political parties, and candidates. Their objective is to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
