Sierra Leone NEC Chairman, Mohammed Conteh

The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) has commended the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) for its professionalism during the March 7 general elections.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, President of the ECONEC Governing Board and Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was quoted giving the commendation in his good will message to NEC in Freetown.

Yakubu, in a statement issued on Sunday, by the Network spokesperson, Mr Paul Ejime, urged NEC to sustain the exemplary conduct through the completion of the presidential run-off vote scheduled for March 27.

“Conducting four elections in one day (presidential, parliamentary, district and local council) is not a mean feat.

“In spite of minor hitches reported by election observers, Sierra Leone’s political stakeholders – the electorate, government and security agencies, civil society and NEC, deserve commendation.

“They deserve commendation for the responsible conduct and patriotism exhibited during the first phase of the electoral process,” Yakubu said.

The ECONEC President expressed his optimism that NEC would live up to the high expectations of Sierra Leoneans and the international community in its determination to deliver peaceful and credible elections.

“This will contribute to the consolidation of stability and democracy in the country and the ECOWAS region as a whole.”

Yakubu further reiterated ECONEC’s commitment to continue to support for NEC Sierra Leone in line with the Network’s mandate of assisting its members.

This, according to him, include information and experience sharing, peer collaboration, pooling of resources and advocacy for technical and logistic support.

According to the statement, Yakubu in July 2017 had led an ECONEC delegation on a Needs Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone.

“This was followed by an advocacy that resulted in the donation of logistics items by the Nigerian government to NEC Sierra Leone.

“The support includes five 4Wd pick-up vehicles, two trucks, two speed boats and five motorcycles. Some of the items have already arrived in Sierra Leone.”

Also, members of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Sierra Leone monitoring the electoral process in the country include ECONEC secretariat staff.

(NAN)