The Commonwealth of Nations assured its neutrality in the upcoming elections on Monday as it deployed its monitoring team.
The Commonwealth Election Monitoring Team is made up of 16 high-level officers from various member countries, including politicians, diplomats, and legal, human rights, gender equality, and election administration experts.
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Thabo Mbeki, the team’s leader, and former South African President described the elections as Africa’s largest democratic exercise during a press conference in Abuja.
The outcome of the election, he believes, will be significant not only for Nigeria but also for the entire continent.
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The CEMT stated that it would provide an impartial and independent assessment of the electoral process in a preliminary statement on February 27.
“We, therefore, urge all stakeholders in Nigeria to maintain their commitment to ensuring a peaceful and inclusive election in which the people of Nigeria can freely exercise their right to vote, with the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly fully respected,” Mbeki said.
“Our mandate is to observe and assess the pre-election period, activities on polling day, and the post-election period.
However, we will consider all factors relating to the credibility of the electoral process. We will assess whether the elections are being held by the democratic election standards to which Nigeria has committed.
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We will be objective, independent, and impartial in carrying out this assessment and performing our duties.
He stated that the CEMT would receive briefings from electoral authorities, political parties, the media, and civil society groups representing women, youth, and people with disabilities in the coming days, allowing the CEMT to gain a better understanding of the situation in the country ahead of the elections.
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By February 2023, an estimated 93.4 million registered voters will be able to vote in 176,846 polling units across Nigeria for presidential and national assembly candidates.
“Following the elections, the group will submit its recommendations in a report to Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC.
Conclusion
All the reports will be forwarded 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 and then be made public.
Source: Punch
