Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been appointed to lead the Economic Community of West African States Election Observation Mission for Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election scheduled for October 25, 2025.
The regional body announced that Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, would head a delegation of prominent West Africans tasked with monitoring the electoral process in the French-speaking nation.
According to an ECOWAS statement, the observation mission will be deployed from October 19 to 29, 2025, in line with the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“As Head of Mission, Osinbajo will lead a delegation of eminent West Africans who will engage with key national stakeholders to encourage a peaceful and credible electoral process,” the statement said.
The mission will also work alongside international and domestic observer groups to evaluate how the election is conducted.
ECOWAS said the deployment demonstrates the regional organisation’s dedication to fostering peace, stability, and credible elections throughout West Africa.
The Ivorian election comes at a crucial period for the region, with several member states gearing up for important national elections whilst working to strengthen democratic governance.
Osinbajo, who served as Vice President under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, brings extensive experience in governance and legal matters to the role.
The former Vice President has previously participated in various diplomatic and regional initiatives, including serving on high-level panels and commissions focused on African development and governance.
Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa’s largest economy, has experienced political tensions surrounding elections in recent years, making the presence of credible international observers particularly significant.
The ECOWAS mission will assess various aspects of the electoral process, including the conduct of security agencies, the independence of electoral bodies, and the overall transparency of the polls.
