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ECOWAS Upbeat about Peaceful, Fair Guinea Election Run-Off

   Peter Clottey 06 July 2010
   Local  residents watch as election workers count presidential votes at
   an  outdoor  polling  station  in Conakry, Guinea (File Photo - 27 Jun
   2010)

Photo: AP

   Local  residents watch as election workers count presidential votes at
   an  outdoor  polling  station  in Conakry, Guinea (File Photo - 27 Jun
   2010)

   A  senior  official with the Economic Community of West African States
   (ECOWAS)  has  expressed  optimism that Guineaâs presidential election
   run-off scheduled for 18^th July will be peaceful and credible.

   ECOWAS  political  director  Abdel-Fatau  Musah  said there are enough
   indications to show that, for the first time, Guineans are excited and
   eager to elect a democratic president.

   âECOWASâs  view  is  optimistic.  Yes,  one  or  two  candidates  have
   expressed their wish to lodge a complaint about irregularities and all
   that,  and  that  is  their legal right according to the constitution.
   But,  ECOWAS  is very confident that we are going to have a successful
   run-off election in Guinea,â he said.

   Losing  candidates  in  the  27^th  June presidential election accused
   Guineaâs Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) of vote rigging after
   logistical  constraints  prevented  the  electoral  body from promptly
   declaring provisional results of the vote.

   Provisional  results  released by the electoral commission show former
   Prime  Minister  Cellou Dalein Diallo won 39.72 percent of the vote in
   last  Sunday's  presidential  poll,  while long-time opposition leader
   Alpha Conde, who came in second, garnered 20.67 percent.

   Guineaâs  Supreme Court is expected to confirm the provisional results
   before  the  two  leading  presidential candidates will contest in the
   election run-off.

   Many  observers  say  the  27^th June vote was the first time Guineaâs
   electoral  commission  has  organized an election without an incumbent
   candidate.  Previous elections were judged to have been manipulated in
   favor of the ruling party and incumbent president.

   According  to  the  electoral commission, about 77 percent of Guineaâs
   four million registered voters fully participated in the vote.

   Meanwhile,  one of the officials of the electoral commission linked to
   one of the presidential contestants reportedly resigned after accusing
   the  electoral commission of failing to fully apply Guineaâs electoral
   code.

   But,   ECOWAS   political   director  Musah  said  that,  despite  the
   challenges, last Sundayâs election was credible.

   âNow, weâve had an Independent Electoral Commission in which there are
   representatives  of  the  same political parties some of which are now
   complaining about the irregularities, and what have you,â he said.

   Poll   observers   that   monitored  the  election,  including  ECOWAS
   observers, applauded the vote in a country analysts say has been ruled
   by  dictators  since it gained independence from colonial power France
   in 1958.

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