ABUJA, Nigeria — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed Nigeria’s former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to head its election observation mission to Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the country’s presidential election scheduled for Saturday, October 25, 2025.
In a statement issued on Sunday, October 19, 2025, the regional bloc said the mission will be deployed from October 19 to 29, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
As head of the mission, Osinbajo will lead a team of prominent West Africans tasked with engaging key political actors and institutions to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process in the Francophone nation.
“The deployment underscores ECOWAS’s unwavering commitment to promoting peace, stability, and credible elections across West Africa,” the statement said.
The regional body added that the mission will collaborate closely with other international and domestic observer groups to assess the conduct of the polls and bolster confidence in Côte d’Ivoire’s democratic process.
The October 25 election comes at a sensitive time for Côte d’Ivoire, as President Alassane Ouattara, 83, seeks a controversial fourth term in office — a move that has reignited debate over constitutional term limits and political succession.
Ouattara’s decision has deepened tensions between the ruling Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) and opposition groups, some of which have accused the government of eroding democratic principles.
International observers see the election as a key test for the country’s political stability and a barometer for democratic governance in the region.
Osinbajo, who served as Nigeria’s vice-president from 2015 to 2023, is widely regarded for his diplomatic experience and crisis management skills, particularly in mediating political and regional disputes.
He previously represented Nigeria in several international fora and has led high-level missions on behalf of ECOWAS and the African Union.
