By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
A team of ECOWAS experts for pre-election fact-finding mission to Nigeria has visited Borno, where it interacted with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on 2023 General Election.
Addressing stakeholders at a meeting organised by Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) in Maiduguri, the Head of the delegation, Dr Kwado Afari-Gyang said the mission held similar meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.
Afari-Gyang said such visits which remain the practice by ECOWAS to any member nation holding election is to speak with stakeholders like CSOs, political parties, electoral bodies, security organisations on level of preparations and how to ensure hitch free election.
“Today we are rounding up the visit here and would go back to present what we saw to the relevant bodies,” the head of mission said.
In their various submissions at the meeting, many of the CSOs lauded INEC preparations, but raised concern over low collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), marginalization of women by political parties.
The CSOs also spoke on thier respective efforts to enlighten the electorates and other relevant organisations for a hitch free election.
Other members of the ECOWAS mission include, Dr. Mohammed Konneh, Mrs Davidetta Brown, Amb. Remi Ajibewa, Dr. Francis Gabriel, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, Dr. Eyesan Okorodudu, Nuhu Hamidu, Barou Youkou and Mr. Abu Tura.
