Abuja - Nigeria — ECOWAS is concerned with the renewal of tension which, since the second round of the presidential election on 28 November 2010 seemed to have marred the serene atmosphere at the conclusion of the electoral process.

Consequently, ECOWAS recalls the incidents that disrupted or prevented citizens from expressing their voting rights, particularly in some areas in the North of the country, which are to be vehemently condemned and culprits involved in such acts sanctioned in accordance with the laws of the land.

ECOWAS invites stakeholders, particularly institutions involved and members of the CEI to work together to seek consensual solutions to the various problems posed. ECOWAS enjoins them to graciously provide necessary information that would facilitate and accelerate the process of compilation, cross-checking and consolidation leading to a consensual publication of provisional results within the shortest time possible, using the adopted operational system.

ECOWAS congratulates the CEI on its efforts and encourages it to complete its electoral work in line with the constitutional provisions to enable it declare the results of the election in a prompt and transparent manner. ECOWAS appeals to the two candidates to put the interest of the country over all other personal considerations. It invites them to accept and respect the provisional consensual results which will be announced by the CEI and urges them to seek only legal option to resolve any complaint and electoral controversy.

ECOWAS invites all Ivoirians, who have exhibited their political and democratic maturity by voting en masse in the first round to be patient, calm and sustain national unity and cohesion to ensure that Côte d'Ivoire comes out completely from this crisis and resumes its special role in the development of our region.