Yiaga dispatches delegation to study general election in Liberia

Yiaga Africa says it is sending a “high-level election study mission” to Liberia for the country’s 2023 general election scheduled for October 10.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Samson Itodo, executive director of Yiaga Africa, said the country’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has accredited the civil society organisation (CSO) for the poll.

Itodo said the mission is part of Yiaga Africa Transforming Electoral Governance in Africa (TEGA) initiative which is designed to transform electoral governance “through evidence-based learning, documentation, and advocacy”.

“Under this project, Yiaga Africa undertakes policy conversations, study missions, and participatory action research on elections and electoral reforms,” he said.

“The mission is led by Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, a former Commissioner for Political Affairs at the African Union Commission and former Nigerian Ambassador to Guinea, also a member of the board of Yiaga Africa.”

Itodo said Sharafadeen Alli, chair of the senate committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Bayo Balogun, chairman of house of representatives committee on electoral matters; and Asmau Maikudi, a former INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) are also part of the delegation.

“The delegation will interact with key electoral stakeholders in line with the mission’s focal themes, which include election management, electoral technology, election results management and citizen participation,” he said.

The executive director said the mission would issue a report on its findings with relevant stakeholders in Liberia and Nigeria.