He emphasized the importance of Nigeria to the ECOWAS region, as the largest economy and most populous nation in Africa.

The Chairman this goodwill message during separate meetings in Abuja on Monday 23rd March 2015 with Nigerian President, and the presidential candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 elections, the presidential flag bearer of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)., and the Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, among other political stakeholders.

President Dramani was accompanied during the meetings by the President of the ECOWAS Commission H.E Kadré Desire Ouédraogo, and other top officials of the Commission.

In February President Ouédraogo held similar solidarity consultations with Nigeria’s key political stakeholders as a demonstration of ECOWAS’ commitment to ensuring peaceful, free, fair and credible electoral process in Nigeria, one of the five ECOWAS Member States holding elections this year.

ECOWAS is deploying a 250-member Long-term and Short-term Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Nigeria, headed by former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who undertook a fact-finding mission to the country last October.

The deployment of the ECOWAS EOM team, the largest by any international organization is consistent with the regional protocol governing democracy and good governance and support to Member States organizing elections, towards the deepening of democracy in the region.