NigeriaElections2023: Commonwealth observers say election ‘largely peaceful’

His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, the former president of South Africa and chair of the Commonwealth Observation Group, has urged political candidates who have been wronged to seek legal remedies.

As he delivered the Commonwealth Observation group’s preliminary report on Monday in Abuja, he said this.

In order to monitor the presidential and National Assembly elections, Commonwealth observers traveled to the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Edo, Kano, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers, and Sokoto states.

They watched the nominations, voting, tally, and results compilation.

Mbeki urged people to be patient and let the Independent National Electoral Commission calmly announce the results.

“We call on all individuals with grievances to settle disputes through proper legal processes,” Mbeki said in his statement.

“As we wait for the findings to be finalized, this is the moment for restraint and continued patience.”

He continued by saying that despite administrative and logistical challenges at many polling places, the election was mainly calm.

He also praised the perseverance and dedication of registered voters.

“We applaud all Nigerians on their determination, patience, and resilience displayed throughout the electoral process,” the former president of South Africa remarked.

He also mentioned the new Electoral Act’s passage in 2022, which among other things offered the electoral commission more power, legal support for the use of computerized voter accreditation, and guidelines for the inclusion of individuals with impairments in the elections.

At the request of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, established the Commonwealth Observer Group.

The group will finish its final report, which will include its recommendations, before departing Nigeria on March 2. The report will then be delivered to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

In the meantime, INEC was asked on Monday to expeditiously upload election results to its website by the African Union and Economic Community of West African States Observation Missions.