Former president and current Head of the Observer Mission deployed to Nigeria by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Eleanor Johnson Sirleaf, has arrived in Nigeria in anticipation of the February 16 polls, with the hopes of ensuring a peaceful and successful general elections.
Arriving in Nigeria on Tuesday at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja, Sirleaf was welcomed into the country by ECOWAS Vice President, Finda Koroma, alongside other members of the Commission and some representatives of the parliament.
Controversies have, however, trailed the upcoming elections with special focus on the hotly contested presidential election. Concerns have also been raised by the international community on the potential credibility of the elections, based on the recent removal and replacement of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
In a bid to deepen and foster democracy in the sub region, ECOWAS has built a reputation for sending a delegation of non-partisan observers to monitor elections in their member states.
These delegates report to the leadership of the organisation, on the credibility of the elections monitored.
Sirleaf enthusiastically stated: “I hope to meet with political leaders, I want to be able to understand the role I have to play to make sure that I am well prepared to carry out the function.”
“I am pleased that it is an ECOWAS assignment and I will be working with them (ECOWAS Commission) and they will guide me and I just expect that I will join all Nigerians to make sure that this whole process is so peaceful and successful.
“That is the purpose of my mission,” she said.
The former President expressed her openness to consulting with the right agencies and those already on ground, to ensure that the mission’s presence is not futile.
“At a later date, the ECOWAS Observer Mission will be fully engaged, will carry out its functions and speak when it is time to speak,” she added.
She is expected to visit Party stakeholders, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the new Inspector General of the Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, among others, today.
The Nigerian general election is scheduled to hold in 10 days.
