MP Suhum observes Nigerian elections

General News of Friday, February 15, 2019

Source: Issah Olegor

2019-02-15

The member of the Suhum constituency, Fredrick Opare Ansah, is currently in Nigeria to observe his general elections as part of the mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Fredrick Opare Ansah, ECOWAS Member of Parliament, and his team are in the state of Ebonyi interacting with the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies.

They also had the opportunity to inspect the distribution of non-sensitive election materials and to interact with the resident Electoral Commissioner.

The hon. Member, with four Ghanaian MPs, namely; Mark Assibey-Yeboah, Mahama Ayeraga and Ama Pomaah Boateng were stationed in the state of Enugu, covering the southeastern states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Imo, as well as the 39, State of North Central Benue.

INEC, in collaboration with IPAC, has developed a plan covering operational deployment, security and staff training to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Members of the House of Representatives had the opportunity to witness the distribution of non-sensitive election materials from INEC offices to different areas of local government.

The ECOWAS mission will also visit some key cities of Nigeria, outside the capital, Abuja, Nigeria, which is the largest economy in West Africa.

At the same time, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) in Nigeria, expressed confidence that Nigeria will succeed in its next general election by drawing strength from its resilience and support from his friends.

Ms. Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, has been optimistic at an information meeting for observers at the headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, on Tuesday. February 14, 2019.

She said that although the elections come in the wake of stubborn security challenges and a tense political environment, the "exercise" not only gives the necessary impetus to consolidate democracy in the country the most populated Africa, but the result will also, to a large extent, impact on the socio-economic, political and security of the region, given the strategic position and the influence of Nigeria ".

The network of electoral commissions of ECOWAS, which is currently led by the Commissioner of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, was created in 2008 to enhance synergy, cooperation and sharing of experiences among Member States to promote democracy and good governance in the region.