By Emmanuel Mandella
Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has called on the country’s leadership to urgently address critical issues hindering preparations of the scheduled general elections in December 2026.
The activist urged for swift action to create favorable conditions for credible electoral process.
He appealed to the presidency and the reconstituted leadership of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), emphasized on the need for clarity on whether key benchmarks, particularly the unification of forces and other transitional security arrangements, will be met by the October 2025 deadline.
“We are calling on the presidency to convene an urgent meeting to deliberate on the creation of a conducive environment for elections,” said Mr. Yakani. “The NTC must also revise timelines for implementing pending tasks within the extended transitional period.”
He further stressed on the importance of trust and transparency between the government and citizens. “Our confidence in the electoral process depends on consistent and clear information from our leaders. Regular communication is essential to build the trust necessary for a peaceful and credible election.”
Yakani proposed that a high-level meeting be held between January 22 and February 22, 2025, to address electoral readiness, cautioning that a delay to act within this window would prompt civil society to intensify scrutiny and advocacy.
“As civil society, we will observe and evaluate the compliance of key institutions with the legal frameworks governing elections. This includes the National Elections Commission (NEC), the National Constitutional Review Commission, the Political Parties Council, and the Joint Defense Board (JDB), among others,” he said.
He reiterated that the presidency bears the ultimate responsibility for making critical political decisions to guide the country towards democratic elections. “We believe in your leadership and trust you will act in the best interest of the nation if you respond to our calls for transparency and accountability,” he said.