ECOWAS Calls For Peaceful, Transparent Election In Nigeria & Senegal Next Year

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called out for peaceful, free and transparent elections in Nigeria and Senegal scheduled next year. The call was made during a conference of heads of state and government of the sub-regional organization held last weekend in the Nigerian capital.

Both Nigeria and Senegal will have Presidential elections in February next year. In Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking re-election for a second and final term in office, while in Senegal, President Macky Sall will be seeking to extend his stay in power after being voted in for the first time in 2012.

ECOWAS members said they are ready to go to any extent to help Abuja and Dakar hold peaceful elections, reported Africa News.

Commenting on the upcoming Nigeria elections, former member, House of Representatives, Opeyemi Bamidele, said Nigeria is in need of selfless leaders and not looters in 2019.  He urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the general elections as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

“We should pray to God to give Nigeria leaders that can live up to expectations of the people,” Bamidele said in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday. “We need leaders and not looters.”

He added that the country needs selfless, sacrificial and God-fearing leaders, the way Jesus Christ displayed in his time.

Bamidele stated that Christians’ commitments to the nation’s survival had helped in stabilizing the system and kept the country together since Independence. He urged Christians to continue to exhibit sacrifice and love, which the birth of Jesus Christ symbolises.

“I want to specially congratulate my people in Ekiti Central Senatorial District in this festive period and pray that the good lord shall spare our lives to be able to witness more in life,” Bamidele said.