By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Few days to Nigeria’s general elections, the Commonwealth Observer Group which has arrived the country to monitor the elections on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu and his management team.
The 16-member Observers led by former President of South Africa, His Excellency, Thabo Mbeki, has charged the Commission to ensure it discharged its statutory role without fear or favour.
Speaking on behalf of the Group which includes Mrs. Amina Mohammed who is the Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group; Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambers, former Executive Secretary of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
and other senior members of the delegation like Linford Andrews, Joshua Setipa and Snober Abbasi, Senior Communications Officer at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mbeki said the success of the 2023 general elections depend on INEC Chairman and his team.
Said he: “we are happy to be in Nigeria for this assignment. Like I told journalists today (Monday) when I gave my arrival speech, the success of the 2023 general elections depend on INEC Chairman and his team”.
“It’s clear the outcome of the elections will be significant not only for Nigeria, but also for the entire African continent.
Responding, the INEC Chairman said he invited the Group through the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Observer Mission, pointing out that “with the voting population of over 93 million, Nigeria’s election is like all the 16 countries of West Africa going to polls”.
Yakubu also assured the Group that the Commission will wholeheartedly accept any recommendations President Mbeki’s Group will turn in after the general elections.
The INEC boss told his guests that the Commission is up to speed and has so far achieved all the milestones set up for the elections except the election day activities which he said will also be delivered successfully.
