INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu: Ghana Drew Inspiration from Nigeria for Credible General Elections

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has praised Ghana’s recently concluded general elections, highlighting how the country adapted strategies from Nigeria, particularly in managing constituency election results.

In a video seen by SaharaReporters, Yakubu acknowledged Ghana’s adoption of a decentralized results announcement system, similar to Nigeria’s, where parliamentary results are declared at the constituency level while presidential results are centralized. This innovation, implemented for the second time, contributed to a faster declaration of results during Ghana’s 2024 presidential election.

The election saw ex-president John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress defeating incumbent Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, with Bawumia gracefully conceding and acknowledging the people’s call for change.

Yakubu also praised Ghana’s political stability, noting the loyalty of voters to political parties over decades, fostering consistency and stability within the nation’s democratic framework.

Despite criticism over Nigeria’s 2019 and 2023 elections, Yakubu expressed satisfaction with Ghana’s process, describing the election as “commendable” and a positive model for the region.

The outcome marks the end of the New Patriotic Party’s governance under President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose administration faced severe economic challenges, including inflation and debt crises.