Commonwealth observer group calls for peaceful elections

The Commonwealth observer group was called for a peaceful elections in Nigeria.

In a press conference held in Abuja, Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa and leader of the group, called on “stakeholders in Nigeria to uphold their commitment to ensure peaceful and inclusive elections where Nigerians can exercise their rights freely. to vote, with the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly fully respected.”

Describing the importance of a peaceful election in Nigeria, he said it would be the biggest democratic exercise in Africa. The result of the election will be significant not only for Nigeria but also for the whole continent, he said.

There are genuine concerns about electoral violence due to insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the south-east and north-west regions.

PREMIUM TIMES reports acute cash shortage in Nigeria due to currency redesign Central Bank of Nigeria. Although the old large denomination notes have been withdrawn by the central bank, the new notes entered into the system are not enough.

This led to people spending hours in banks and led to violent protests in several countries.

PREMIUM TIMES has also reported on violence in various countries caused by armed groups. Armed separatists in the southeast regularly attack security officials as well as officials and offices of the electoral commission, INEC.

In the north-west and some parts of the north-central, terrorists, known as bandits, continue to attack local residents in rural communities, displacing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. The Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, although it has been decimated, has also not been eradicated.

Nigeria will hold federal presidential and legislative elections on February 25 while state elections will be held on March 11.

Mr Mbeki noted that the role of the Commonwealth team was to observe and assess the pre-election period, polling day activities and the post-election period. In doing so, the group pledges to be objective, independent and impartial.

On February 27, the group will publish an interim statement, which provides an assessment of the electoral process.
The Observer Group is made up of 16 observers from various Commonwealth countries including politicians, diplomats and legal experts, human rights, gender equality and electoral administration.

16 observers will on February 23 be sent to around seven states in the country.

---

Mbeki also noted that recent coup events in the West African region will not affect Nigeria’s elections.