Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has accepted to guide the Commonwealth Observer Group constituted by secretary common Patricia Scotland to look at the Sierra Leone 2023 common elections.
Mr Osinbajo’s media aide Laolu Akande disclosed this in an announcement on Friday.
Ms Scotland constituted the observer group, a group of distinguished specialists upon the invitation from Sierra Leone’s electoral fee.
Because the group’s chair, Mr Osinbajo could be the chief and spokesperson of the group of distinguished specialists drawn from around the globe, interfacing between the group, the media and the authorities of the host nation.
In an announcement on Thursday, Ms Scotland expressed gratitude to Mr Osinbajo for accepting the invitation regardless of his busy schedule.
“As a senior statesman from the area, Osinbajo understands, in depth, the challenges throughout West Africa, and I’m assured he’ll lead a superb group,” Ms Scotland mentioned.
Responding, Mr Osinbajo welcomed the chance to guide the election observers in Sierra Leone on June 24.
“I’m extremely honoured by the distinctive alternative to proceed to carry my experience and expertise in contributing to deepening democracy, particularly in Africa and the Commonwealth by extension,” acknowledged the Nigerian vice-president.
In accordance with the Commonwealth secretariat, Mr Osinbajo shall be joined by recognised dignitaries from varied fields, together with politicians, authorized, media, gender and election administration professionals throughout the Commonwealth.
The group’s mandate could be to look at the electoral course of and supply an unbiased evaluation of whether or not the election is credible.
The group will then report on the conduct of the elections in accordance with the requirements to which Sierra Leone has dedicated itself, together with its personal legal guidelines.
“In step with Commonwealth methodology, the group will take into account, amongst different issues, whether or not circumstances exist for credible and inclusive elections, together with a good election atmosphere; whether or not public media has been neutral; the transparency of the whole course of; and whether or not voters are free to specific their will,” the organisation mentioned.
“The group, upon completion of its task, will submit its suggestions in a report back to the Commonwealth secretary-general, who will subsequently share it with the federal government of Sierra Leone, the electoral fee, political events and all Commonwealth governments,” it added.
(NAN)
