Osinbajo: African leaders must make extra efforts to ensure transparent elections

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has called on African leaders to ensure transparency during elections.

Osinbajo said this on Monday when he received Carlos Vila Nova, president-elect of Sao Tome and Principe, at Aso Rock.

The presidential elections in Sao Tome and Principe, which was held in two rounds, was concluded on September 6, with Vila Nova, the opposition candidate, declared winner after he won 57 percent of the votes.

Osinbajo, who commended Sao Tome and Principe on the recently-concluded elections, added that Nigeria will also look into ways of collaboration with the central African country.

According to a statement by Laolu Akande, spokesman to the vice-president, Osinbajo urged African countries to ensure that elections follow democratic processes.

“There is no question at all that for those of us in Africa, we must make the extra effort to ensure that the democratic process is very transparent,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying.

“It is such a pleasure to see that that was what took place in your country which led to your election.

“We already talked about some of the areas of cooperation. Your tenure might be an opportunity to bring some of those things to fruition.”

In his remarks, the Sao Tome and Principe president-elect commended the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for supporting his country.

In attendance at the meeting were Zubairu Dada, minister of state for foreign affairs, and Americo de Oliveira Ramos, a member of the Sao Tome and Principe’s cabinet.