Abidjan - Cote d'Ivoire — « Our mission did not observe any major irregularities likely to taint the freedom, credibility and transparency of the 31st October 2010 presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire ». This how the Leader of the ECOWAS Observer Mission for this election, Professor Theodore Holo, President of the High Court of Justice of Benin summarized his preliminary statement at a press conference this day in Abidjan.
This statement indicated that during the preparatory phase and pre-campaign period, adequate measures were put in place to ensure optimum conditions for the effective holding of the poll. These were the publication by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of the approved electoral roll, the distribution of voter ID cards and also the peaceful environment in which the election took place. Regarding the conduct of the poll, the Mission noted, inter alia, the huge voter mobilization and turnout at the various polling stations, the availability of polling materials and polling officials as well as the presence of security forces at polling stations. The Mission also found out that the voting process was smooth and in accordance with current standards, particularly in terms of collation and vote counting.
However, the Mission noted some shortcomings concerning delays in opening some polling stations due to logistical problems and difficulties in the dispatch of polling materials. It also observed that the process was sometimes slow because the relatively long some voters took to understand voting procedures. This notwithstanding, the Leader of the Mission stated that there significant improvements were recorded as voters began to understand the process. In view of these preliminary observations, the ECOWAS Observer Mission did not observe any major irregularities likely to taint the freedom, credibility and transparency of the 31st October 2010 presidential election in Cote d'Ivoire, declared Professor Theodore Holo.
To this end, ECOWAS congratulates all the political stakeholders, candidates as well as their supporters and sympathizers for the political maturity and sense of responsibility demonstrated throughout the electoral process. It also lauded the civic commitment and determination of the Ivorian people for showing maturity during this landmark presidential election. ECOWAS urged all the stakeholders to continue the rest of the electoral process in the same state of mind. It called on all the candidates to accept the results of the poll and urged them to resort to legal channels in case of dispute.
ECOWAS seized the opportunity to express its gratitude to Mr. Blaise Compaore, President of Faso and Facilitator of the Inter-Ivorian Direct Dialogue, for its significant and conclusive efforts in this quest to normalize the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire. It reiterated its commitment to support Cote d'Ivoire in the next stages in order to find a lasting solution to the crisis and to consolidate democracy and good governance in this country.
