Hon. Jim Okolo Chimezie, a UN accredited international election observer and the Nigerian National Coordinator, Nouvelle Perspective International earlier in the week joined other dignitaries at the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Summit in Abuja where Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu handed over the chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone.
Tinubu ended his two-year tenure at the ECOWAS Authority’s 67th Ordinary Session by symbolically handing over the Emblem to the incoming Chair.
He expressed confidence in the region’s continued path toward peace, stability, and prosperity, describing his tenure as a profound honour and privilege to have led the esteemed body since July 2023.
Tinubu said he remained deeply humbled by the trust and support extended to him throughout his two-term tenure.
“As I now hand over the mantle of leadership to my great friend and dear brother, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I do so with a deep sense of fulfilment and optimism for the future of West Africa.
“I remain confident that with the continued cooperation of all its members, ECOWAS will scale greater heights in our collective pursuit of peace, security, stability, and prosperity for our people and our region,” he said.
Jim Okolo was among dignitaries invited to attend the event. He has been at forefront in promoting transparency in election and good governance in the African continent and the Abuja engagement is believed to be part of efforts to galvanise stakeholders within the West African sub-region to inject more credibility in the electoral system.
Among Presidents in attendance during the handover include, John Mahama (Ghana), Joseph Boakai (Liberia), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), Adama Barrow (The Gambia), Patrice Talon (Republic of Benin) and Jean Lucien de Tové (Togo).
Hon. Jim Okolo Chimezie held private meetings with some of the ECOWAS leaders, including members of the Nigerian Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the summit.
As part of the continental integration, he recently visited Burundi’s ambassador to Nigeria in Abuja where he sought collaboration to foster transparency in the electoral system.
He has participated in observing high profile electoral contests, including the 2024 US presidential election won by President Donald Trump.
Jim Okolo had had recently visited a former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo and later the Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Joseph Terlumun Utsev.
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