2023: Buhari reiterates commitment to free, fair and credible election

President Mohammadu Buhari on Monday assured Nigerians and of course the world of its readiness to organise a free, fair and credible elections come 2023 as he also enjoined other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to do the same.

The President also tasked other Member States to up their levy as of when due to enable the institution to perform maximally.

These remarks were made at the 2022 Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, which held in International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria that had in attendance the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo,
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission and others.

According President Buhari, “I am in awe of progress being made by the ECOWAS Parliament since inception. I want to thank the leadership (ECOWAS) of the parliament for a job well done. I therefore urge you to perform your second function of taking up the responsibility of your levy with due diligence”.

“let me seize this opportunity to reiterate in organising a free and fair election come 2023 with no or less minimal violence” –

“Let me emphasize that Nigeria will continue to support all the ECOWAS institutions.

Mr Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is the Chair of the ECOWAS
Authority of Heads of State and Government tasked the Parliamentarians to focus their discussions around stabilising the region.

President of Guinea Bissau: “The ECOWAS is supposed to have frantic discussion for the political stability of our region. Our honorable Parliamentarians, we need to look at the coup d’etat in Mali and other Member states. The members of the ECOWAS Parliament must dedicate totally the necessary efficient performance.”

On his part, Speaker Mohammed Tuni Sidie of the ECOWAS Parliament said, the 2023 budget is top priority on its list as well as some of the pending reports on oversights, fact finding mission reports and countries reports.

“As the Parliament convenes today, I wish to note that this Session will be primarily dedicated to the following:
a. Consideration of the Consolidated Community Budget for the
year 2023;
b. Consideration of Reports from Joint, Standing and Ad hoc
Committees;
c. Consideration of Reports from Fact Finding and Oversight
Missions
d. Presentation of Country Reports; and
e. Interactive sessions with some of our partners.

“This session, otherwise known as the “Budget Session”,
mandates the Parliament, in accordance with our Supplementary
Act, to consider the Consolidated Community Budget.

Consequently, we have been tasked to ensure that the Budget is
directed towards programs that address the needs, aspirations and
interest of the people we represent. In discharging this all important assignment, let us bear in mind the challenges we face
from an urgent and looming crisis in our Community. We must
summon the will, courage and commitment to act in ways that will
impact positively on our region.”