Nigeria Content Online

The former President
of Botswana, Festus Mogae, will lead the Commonwealth Observer Group
(COG) to the forthcoming general elections in April.

This was revealed by
the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma on Monday in London
after constituting the group which he claimed was at the invitation of
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Mogoe is
respected in the global community for the effective reforms he undertook
during his two term as the leader of the South African country. Mr
Mogoe in 2008 won the prestigious Mo Ibrahim prize of Achievement in
African Leadership. A prize that has remained elusive ever since then as
no other African leader has been found worthy.

The COG is expected
to comprise 13 experienced persons, supported by a team from the
Commonwealth Secretariat headed by Amitav Banerji, Director of the
Political Affairs Division. They are expected to arrive in Nigeria on 26
March 2011, and to stay until 15 April 2011.

According to Mr
Sharma, “the Commonwealth has a long and substantial history of
engagement with Nigeria” as he noted that “it is important that the
forthcoming elections are well-organised, credible and peaceful.” He
expressed his delight over the observation mission noting that the
elections were ‘critical’ in the nation’s history and he stated his hope
that the electoral process and the outcome will further strengthen the
democratic process in the country.”

Role of the observer group

The mandate of the
Commonwealth Observer Group is to observe the preparations for the
election, the polling, the counting and the results process, and the
overall electoral environment. It will assess the conduct of the process
as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the future
strengthening of the electoral framework in Nigeria.

The group will determine in its own judgement whether the elections
have been conducted according to standards for democratic elections.
The group’s report will be submitted to the Commonwealth
Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the government of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the INEC, political parties, and eventually
to all Commonwealth governments.