The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to lead its election observation mission to Nigeria.

The appointment

The appointment was announced in a statement from Akufo-Addo's office on Thursday, 12 November 2026. He will oversee the deployment of ECOWAS observers for Nigeria's presidential and National Assembly elections, scheduled for 16 January 2027. The mission will monitor the electoral process and report on how the polls are conducted.

Who is Akufo-Addo

Akufo-Addo served two terms as Ghana's president, from 2017 to January 2025.

Background

International attention on Nigeria's election is growing. The European Union has raised concerns about violence and hate speech, and a senior US State Department official told Congress this week that the vote could spur violence. INEC says preparations are on track, with non-sensitive materials already being moved to the states.

The United States says it will keep a close watch on Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, with a senior official warning that it could trigger violence.

What was said

Frank Garcia, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, made the remarks on Thursday, 12 November 2026, in prepared testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa during a hearing on violence in Nigeria. He said he was realistic about the challenges ahead and that the January presidential election could spur violence. He also pointed to an overstretched security system, limited reach of the courts in the Middle Belt and a lack of resources as obstacles to tackling insecurity.

Congress weighs in

Congressman Riley Moore used the hearing to call for close American attention to how the election unfolds.

Background

ECOWAS has appointed former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo to lead its observer mission for the polls.

Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), says he is still open to working with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi before the 2027 elections.

What he said

In a television interview aired on Friday, 13 November 2026, Makinde said discussions with both men were still active and that no option had been ruled out. He said the talks could lead to a range of political arrangements before the election, and that any decision would be guided by the goal of changing the country's direction. Asked whether he preferred Atiku or Obi as a partner, he said the choice should be based on evidence and public opinion rather than sentiment. He has also said he is willing to work with any Nigerian except President Bola Tinubu.

Background

Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Efforts to agree a single opposition candidate have repeatedly stalled, with each insisting on running. Earlier this week, Makinde gave four reasons for challenging Tinubu, whom he supported in 2023, and PRP candidate Donald Duke said he was willing to step down for a consensus candidate. The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Dr. Mo has expressed admiration for former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, now the NDC presidential candidate, describing his travel schedule as one that is very hard to keep up with.

"Just visualise what I'm saying"

According to Dr. Mo, travelling with Obi means moving from one city to another, sometimes across continents, with little time to settle before the next journey.

"We move from Lagos to Abuja, then take off to London. From there, we spend eight hours flying to Houston, hold a meeting and move to Phoenix, then California. We return to Texas, go to Dallas, fly back to the UK and eventually return to Nigeria," he said.

"Just imagine it. Just visualise what I'm saying."

"One in a million"

Dr. Mo described Obi as "one in a million", expressing admiration for the amount of travelling and the number of engagements he handles.

For anyone who has done long-distance travel, moving through several cities, attending meetings and catching yet another flight can be exhausting. Doing it repeatedly, while running a national campaign, is another level entirely.

Over to you

How does Peter Obi manage such a demanding schedule, and where does he get the energy to keep moving?