NIGERIA: INEC Chair Warns Of Democratic Backslide In West Africa, Confirms His Tenure Ends Soon

Onoja Baba, Nigeria

With the curtain gradually falling on his tenure as Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu delivered what appeared to be both a call to action and a sobering reflection on the state of democracy in West Africa.

Addressing the Extraordinary General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) on Thursday, April 10, in Banjul, Gambia, Prof. Yakubu lamented the return of military regimes in parts of the region, warning that democratic gains painstakingly achieved over the years are now under serious threat.

“It is with deep regret that I report what we all know too well: four countries in our region are no longer under democratic rule. This is a reversal from 2017 when, during our meeting in Sierra Leone, we could proudly say democracy was alive in every member state,” he told fellow electoral commissioners.

While his remarks highlighted the positive strides made through electoral cooperation under ECONEC, they were also laced with concern about recent political regressions.

His statement served as both a farewell and a call to vigilance, stressing that without unity and strategic collaboration among Election Management Bodies (EMBs), the region risks drifting further into instability.

Prof. Yakubu’s speech marked his final appearance at an ECONEC meeting as INEC Chairman, with his tenure scheduled to end later this year.

He used the moment to thank regional partners for their collaboration, expressing confidence in their ability to continue promoting electoral integrity even in difficult circumstances.

The Banjul Assembly, convened to review and adopt new statutes for the organization, also featured discussions on a potentially game-changing initiative: the creation of Africa’s first shared electoral resource database.

If realized, this database could significantly enhance capacity-building and technical assistance among electoral bodies, particularly in fragile democracies.

Heads and deputy heads of electoral commissions from 11 countries, including Ghana, Senegal, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire, were in attendance. Many echoed Prof. Yakubu’s sentiments, praising ECONEC’s role in fortifying democratic practices across the sub-region and pledging continued cooperation.

Beyond the assembly hall, Prof. Yakubu is expected to accompany ECONEC President Mohamed Kenewui Konneh of Sierra Leone on a series of high-level engagements with Gambian authorities.

These meetings are part of a Needs Assessment Mission ahead of Gambia’s presidential election in 2026.

With a steady voice but unmistakable urgency, Prof. Yakubu reminded his peers that democracy, once taken for granted in the region, now requires greater defense than ever before.

His message was clear: collaboration is not a choice, but a necessity, if West Africa is to reclaim and sustain its democratic future.