2023 Election: Commonwealth to Observe the February 25 election

Ahead of the presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, reechoed yesterday when he received the Commonwealth Observer Mission to Nigeria in his office.

A former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, who lead the mission with some National Commissioners in Abuja, during the meeting with Yakubu, said Nigeria is a very important country for the Commonwealth and they are hopeful the elections will be peaceful, credible and all-inclusive.

Stating the purpose of the visit, the former South Africa President said the meeting would afford the delegation an opportunity to hear from the electoral umpire, especially on preparations thus far.This is the seventh election the Mission would be observing in Nigeria.

According to him, the mission will write a report based on their observations and possibly make recommendations as well. Mbeki added that the success of the polls depend on the activities of INEC. He, therefore, stressed the need for INEC to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and the international community in its conduct of the February 25 and March 11 general elections.

The INEC chairman, Yakubu stressed the importance that INEC attaches to the observations of the Commonwealth Observer Mission in the past. He explained that some of the recommendations in the past have led to improvements, including the deployment of technologies by the Commission.

Mbeki, while addressing newsmen in a press conference, described the election as Africa’s largest democratic exercise, adding that the outcome will be significant not only for Nigeria, but also for the entire continent. He urged all stakeholders to uphold their commitment to ensuring a peaceful and inclusive election.

“Our mandate is to observe and assess the pre-election period, activities on polling day and the post-election period. Throughout, we will consider all factors relating to the credibility of the electoral process. We will assess whether the elections are conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself, An estimated 93.4 million registered voters will have the right to cast ballots for presidential and National Assembly candidates in 176,846 polling units across Nigeria.” Mbeki said.

After the elections, Mbeki said the group will submit its recommendations in a report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC.