Former South African President H.E. Thabo Mbeki, has urged the Nigeria’s political parties, candidates and their supporters to play their role in ensuring peaceful, transparent and credible elections that will be held on February 25th 2023.
“This month’s elections will be Africa’s largest democratic exercise. The outcomes of the elections will be significant not only for Nigeria, but also for the entire continent. Therefore, we urge all stakeholders in Nigeria to uphold their commitment to ensure a peaceful and inclusive election in which the people of Nigeria are able to freely exercise their right to vote, with the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly fully respected.” He highlighted.
Mbeki who also serves as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria made these remarks while addressing Journalists at a press conference in Abuja, following the arrival of Commonwealth observers in Nigeria on 18 February 2023.
Mbeki also reechoed that as the Commonwealth Observer group, their mandate is to observe and assess the pre-election period, activities on polling day and the post-election period and throughout the process, they 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 … As we undertake this assessment and conduct our duties, we will be objective, independent and impartial” Mbeki asserted.
Nigeria which is also one of Africa’s largest countries and economies has an estimation of 93.4 million registered voters that will have a constitutional right to cast ballots for presidential and national assembly candidates in 176,846 polling units across the country.
From February 23rd, observers will be deployed across the country to observe the pre-election preparations as well as voting, counting and results processes at polling stations.
Over the coming days, the group will also receive briefings from the electoral authorities, political parties, the media and civil society groups representing women, youth and people with disabilities. This will enable the group to get a better understanding of the situation within the country ahead of the elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission cleared 18 candidates for the 2023 presidential race but the main contest is between Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tanibu, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso and the winner will overtake from Muhammadu Buhari who has led the country for the last 8 years.
This Observer Group comprises 16 eminent persons from around the Commonwealth, including politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender equality and election administration and following the elections, the group will submit its recommendations in a report to Commonwealth Secretary-General, t Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC who will forward the report to the Government of Nigeria, the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission, the leadership of political parties taking part in the elections and all Commonwealth governments.
