The Commonwealth Observer Group has urged stakeholders in the 2023 general elections to uphold fairness and transparency in the conduct of the exercise in order to meet the expectations of the electorate.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of the group, made this known on Monday in Abuja ahead of the forthcoming Feb. 25 and March 11 general elections.
He said that this would engender the need credibility and peace for a successful conduct of the election and acceptance by the people.
The mandate of the group, which is independent and impartial, is to observe the preparations for the election, the polling, counting and the results process, and the overall electoral environment.
The observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the strengthening of the electoral system in Nigeria.
Mbeki said that the Commonwealth Observer Mission is on ground to support Nigeria, assess whether the processes are conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself.
He said that Nigeria is Africa’s largest democracy and a valued member of the Commonwealth, noting that the outcome of the election is important for the global community.
“This month’s election will be Africa’s largest democratic exercise. It is clear that 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 freely able to exercise their right to vote, with the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly fully respected,” Mbeki said.
Mbeki said that the group would observe and assess the pre-election period, activities on polling day and the post-election period.
“The Commonwealth has a long tradition of supporting the country’s democratic development through election observation.
“We will assess whether the elections are conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Nigeria has committed itself, including the framework and national legislation, as well as commonwealth and other international commitments.
“The Commonwealth Observer Group has no executive role; our function is not to supervise but to observe the process as a whole and to form a judgement accordingly,” Mbeki said.
Mbeki said that observers would be deployed to different part of the country to observe the campaigning, voting, counting and result process.
He said that following the election, the mission would deliver an interim statement which provides the group’s preliminary assessment of the electoral process.
He added that upon completion of the assignment, the Commonwealth Observer Group would submit its recommendations in a report to the Commonwealth Secretary-general, for onward transmission to the government of Nigeria.
Mbeki said the report would also be made to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leadership of political parties, all Commonwealth governments and the public afterwards.