Former President of the Republic of The Gambia , Sir Dawda K. Jawara has been appointed by the Ecowas Commission's President Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas to head the fact finding mission to Nigeria , in order to evaluate and report to Ecowas on the situation ahead of the Nigeria election which is slated for April 2007.

The appointment was made in accordance with Article 13 of the Ecowas Additional Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance of December 2001. Other members of the mission are Hon. Elizabeth Alpha Lavalie, Deputy Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament and member of the Ecowas Council of Elders, Rtd General Seth Obeng of the Armed Forces of Ghana and member of Ecowas Council of Elders, Dr Kojo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of National Electoral Commission of Ghana, Dr Abdel Fatau Musah, Conflict Prevention Adviser at Ecowas Commission and Francis Gabriel Oke, Programme Officer at Electoral Assistance Unit of Ecowas.

The mission is expected to meet and discuss with political parties, government authorities, electoral commission and other structures such as the media representatives, civil society organizations and development partners. They are also tasked to evaluate the political and security situation, the level of preparedness and the probability for Ecowas additional contribution to the election process in Nigeria to ensure peace and security.

The mission is also assigned to collect and identify all conflicting factors, which can influence the successful organization of the elections. Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara is expected to leave for Abuja on February 1 st , 2007, according to the release from the Ecowas Bureau in Banjul , The Gambia.