Voting in Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election began on Saturday under what observers described as a “calm and peaceful climate,” according to a preliminary mid-day assessment by the joint Election Observation Mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
An estimated 8.7 million registered voters are casting ballots to elect the country’s next president from a field of five candidates: incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, Simone Éhivet Gbagbo, Jean-Louis Billon, Ahoua Don Mello, and Henriette Lagou Adjoua.
Observers Commend Orderly Process
The ECOWAS-AU mission, led by former Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, visited polling stations in key districts of Abidjan, including Cocody, Abobo, and Koumassi. Following the visits and consultations with electoral experts and civil society representatives, Osinbajo praised the orderly conduct and strong voter turnout, particularly among women.
“The atmosphere has been commendably peaceful,” Osinbajo said, urging citizens and political actors to maintain the same spirit throughout the electoral process. He emphasized the importance of allowing the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) to carry out its mandate without interference.
Appeal for Restraint and Legal Recourse
In a public statement, Osinbajo called on all stakeholders to respect the official results as declared by the CEI and to pursue any disputes through legal channels. He also encouraged political actors to prioritize consensus and national unity.
The joint ECOWAS-AU mission includes 250 observers and is operating in coordination with other international and regional teams, such as the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), and the Council of the Entente.
A press conference is scheduled for Monday, October 27, during which the ECOWAS mission will release a preliminary report on the conduct of the election.
