Osinbajo to Lead ECOWAS Election Observation Mission in Côte d’Ivoire

Abuja, Nigeria – October 20, 2025

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed former Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to lead its Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025.

As head of the ECOWAS mission, Prof. Osinbajo will oversee a delegation of distinguished West African observers tasked with monitoring the electoral process to ensure it is conducted in a peaceful, transparent, and credible manner. His appointment underscores ECOWAS’s continued dedication to strengthening democratic institutions and promoting stability across the West African region.

The mission will be guided by the provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. It will engage with electoral stakeholders including political parties, civil society organizations, the electoral commission, and security agencies. In addition, the ECOWAS team will collaborate with other international and regional observer missions to provide a comprehensive assessment of the electoral environment and the conduct of the polls.

This high-level deployment reflects ECOWAS’s proactive stance on preventive diplomacy and conflict mitigation during critical political transitions. Côte d’Ivoire’s election is expected to be a key moment for democratic consolidation in the country, and the presence of seasoned observers like Prof. Osinbajo is aimed at reinforcing confidence in the process.
Prof. Osinbajo, a professor of law and senior advocate of Nigeria, served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 2015 to 2023 and is widely respected for his experience in governance, law, and regional diplomacy.

The ECOWAS mission is expected to issue a preliminary report shortly after the elections, with a final report to follow after the full assessment of the electoral process.