“Rarely Do Their Politicians Switch Parties”: INEC Chair Yakubu on Ghana’s Presidential Election

The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has commended Ghana’s unique political stability and its smooth electoral processes, contrasting them with Nigeria’s frequent instances of party defections. Yakubu expressed admiration for the Ghanaian tradition where politicians rarely switch parties during general elections, a practice that contributes to the country’s political stability.

Yakubu made these remarks while observing Ghana’s 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, which culminated in the victory of former President John Dramani Mahama. Mahama, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), who conceded defeat and extended his congratulations. Bawumia acknowledged the electorate’s decision, marking the end of two terms for the NPP under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo. The defeat follows a challenging economic period for Ghana, characterized by high inflation and a debt default.

Yakubu praised the perseverance of Ghanaian political figures, citing examples like Mahama and Akufo-Addo, who both contested multiple elections before achieving success. He highlighted the consistency of party structures and voter loyalty in Ghana, noting that such stability is rare in other democracies, including Nigeria.

The INEC Chairman also noted Ghana’s electoral improvements, inspired by Nigerian practices. Previously, all election results in Ghana were sent to the Electoral Commission headquarters in Accra. However, the country has now adopted a decentralized system where parliamentary results are announced at the constituency level, while only presidential results are sent to Accra. This system, modeled after Nigeria’s approach, has enhanced the efficiency and speed of result declarations.

Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and commended Ghana’s Electoral Commission for its efforts. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s democratic processes, emphasizing the mutual benefits of sharing electoral best practices.

“The process and its outcome so far have been commendable, and we continue to support our colleagues in Ghana’s Electoral Commission,” Yakubu stated.