The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has designated Nigeria’s former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), to spearhead its Election Observation Mission for the upcoming presidential election in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, set for October 25, 2025.
This mission will remain active in Côte d’Ivoire until October 29, 2025, in accordance with the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Leading the delegation, Osinbajo will coordinate a distinguished group of West African experts responsible for engaging with key national actors to ensure a transparent and peaceful electoral process. The team will also collaborate with both international and local observer organizations to evaluate the election’s overall integrity.
The establishment of this observation team highlights ECOWAS’s steadfast dedication to fostering stability, peace, and credible democratic practices throughout the West African region.
According to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the President of Côte d’Ivoire is chosen through a plurality voting system for a single five-year term, which can be renewed once.
The most recent presidential election took place in 2020, where the sitting president, Alassane Ouattara, secured 94% of the votes cast.
In the forthcoming election, alongside Ouattara who is seeking another term, candidates include Simone Gbagbo, Jean-Louis Billon, Ahoua Don Mello, and Henriette Lagou Adjoua.
Notably, several hopefuls, such as former President Laurent Gbagbo, have been barred from participating in this electoral contest.
