Sierra Leonean Parliamentarian praises Nigerian elections, reaffirms the place of transparent and inclusive elections as surest way to ensure transfer of sovereignty from the people to those who govern.
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Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Mohammed Sidie Tunis, has restated Parliament’s commitment to strengthening democracy in the sub-region.
Tunis made the pledge at the start of a five-day delocalised meeting of the Joint Committees of the ECOWAS Parliament, bringing together eight Standing Committees on the theme: ‘Building the Regional Energy Market for a Just Energy Transition’ which opened on Monday, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
“The ECOWAS Parliament, through its meetings in Member States, continues to identify and forge closer ties with the citizens of the West African community, thereby asserting itself as a key mechanism for sub-regional representation. In this regard, the ECOWAS Parliament is committed to strengthening representative democracy in the Community and contributes to the promotion of peace, security and stability in the sub-region,” he declared in his opening remarks.
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He congratulated the people of Nigeria on their successful presidential, federal legislative, governorship and state legislative elections.
“I am pleased to reaffirm that the organisation of free, transparent and inclusive elections is today the surest way to ensure the transfer of the inalienable sovereignty of the people to those who govern. I welcome the successful conduct of this democratic exercise and congratulate the Nigerian people for the quality of democratic life they have demonstrated.”
Tunis expressed satisfaction with the success of the electoral process in Nigeria, which he said would go a long way in boosting the region’s democratic credentials.
“It would, at the same time, legitimize Nigeria’s leadership status, both within and outside the African Continent. I use this medium to say, “Congratulations Nigeria, Congratulations, West Africa.”
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The Speaker used the occasion to appeal to all winners in the election to be magnanimous with the victory while commending those who were not too fortunate to attain their goal at the 2023 elections for the decision to challenge areas of grievances in the law court.
“That is a mature way of supporting the hard-fought democracy that our countries are enjoying today. We reiterate Parliament’s stance of zero tolerance for election violence, because violence, if left unchecked, could set back notable strides we have made towards peace and democracy in the sub-region.”
To his country, Sierra Leone, he gave assurances that the ECOWAS Parliament, in concert with the ECOWAS Commission and other ECOWAS structures, will do everything within its authority to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in Sierra Leone come June 2023.
The delocalised meeting, which started on Monday, 20th March, will last through 25th March 2023.
