The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has commended Ghana’s recent general election as a shining example of credibility.
Yakubu, who has faced criticism in Nigeria for the 2019 and 2023 general elections, praised Ghana’s ability to manage constituency election results, a skill he claims they “learnt from Nigeria.”
Ghana’s presidential election, held on December 7, 2024, saw ex-president John Mahama emerge victorious, with his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceding defeat.
Yakubu attributed Ghana’s success to its innovations and political stability, as well as the perseverance of its main opposition candidate.
Yakubu also highlighted the importance of Ghana’s electoral commission learning from Nigeria’s experience in managing constituency election results. He noted that Ghana’s electoral commission has adopted a system where returning officers announce results for parliamentary elections in various constituencies, with only presidential election results being announced in Accra.
The outcome of Ghana’s election marks the end of two terms in power for the governing New Patriotic Party under President Nana Akufo-Addo. The election was seen as a significant test of Ghana’s democratic stability, particularly given the country’s economic crisis.
Overall, Yakubu’s comments suggest that Ghana’s electoral commission has made significant strides in ensuring the credibility of its elections, and that Nigeria’s INEC can learn from Ghana’s experience.
