Dr. Sawyer leads ECOWAS Mission to Niger

The head of the Governance Commission or GC Dr. Amos Sawyer, has successfully led an ECOWAS electoral observation mission to the 2016 presidential and legislative elections in Niger.

A press release from the GC says in a preliminary statement of the mission, Dr. Sawyer declared that the polls were conducted in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. He noted that the people of Niger demonstrated high level of patience, and civil responsibility during the electoral process despite delays in the opening of polls, and added the counting process and validation of ballot papers in the polling stations took place in a transparent and credible manner with the presence of delegates of political parties, and election observers.

According to the release issued Wednesday, February 24, Dr. Sawyer observed the opening, conduct, closing of the polls as well as counting of votes at several polling stations around the capital, Niamey. He was accompanied by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security,Madam SallamatuHussaini Suleiman, and the Director of Political Affairs at ECOWAS, Dr. AdermiAdereAjibewa.

The release says ahead of the elections, Dr. Sawyer held meeting with major Nigerien stakeholders, and political actors to assess situations on the ground and to assure them of ECOWAS’ commitment to supporting their processes of democratization and state building.

The former Liberian interim president noted that ECOWAS has led several missions to the country since 2015 to support national institutions and to promote peaceful political dialogue ahead of the 2016 elections. Press Release