ABIDJAN – Cote d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara has condemned the resignation of members of opposition political parties from the country’s newly constituted Independent Electoral Commission.
A government statement in Abidjan on Tuesday quoted Ouattara as making the condemnation in Daoukro, in the east-central region where he is currently undertaking state a visit.
A coalition of opposition parties in Cote d’Ivoire, the Alliance of Democratic Forces (ADF) recently pulled out of the election commission.
The ADF hinged its decision on the emergence of the commission’s immediate past chairman, Mr Youssouf Bakayoko, as its new head, saying that it would not guarantee a credible election.
It said that Bakayoko was unfit to head the commission following the crisis that erupted after the 2010 election which he organised. [eap_ad_2] Meanwhile, the statement quoted Ouattara as saying that the emergence of Bakayoko as the chairman of the election commission was democratic and would not be changed.
“We expect our brothers in the opposition parties to return to the commission and play roles towards ensuring a free and fair election in 2015.
“Bakayoko has experience in organising elections, he is a man with an independent mind, he will not be changed,’’ the statement quoted him as saying.
NAN recalls that Cote d’Ivoire, world’s largest cocoa beans producer, was hit by a post-election violence following a disputed election between Ouattara and former president Laurent Gbagbo. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]
