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Uhuru to lead AU election observation mission in Nigeria

The mission will comprise AU representatives committee and Pan-African Parliament, among others.

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by The Star

News13 February 2023 - 15:08
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In Summary


  • The nomination is yet another continental vote of confidence in Uhuru who is currently Kenya’s peace envoy to the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
  • Nigerians will vote in their new president and national legislators on February 25. This will be followed by election on state legislators and governors on March 11.
President William Ruto, his Burundian counterpart Évariste Ndayishimiye, EAC peace facilitator Uhuru Kenyatta and DRC representative during the Congolese peace summit at Safari Park on November 28, 2022.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead the African Union election observation mission to Nigeria, the Star has established.

The Africa Union Commission said the Uhuru will lead the African Union Election Observation Group in the polls scheduled for February 25.

AU commission chairperson Moussa Faki said they picked the former president because of what he described as his solid commitment to democracy and peace in Africa.

“In this regard, and given your Pan African credentials and solid commitment to democracy, peace and development on the continent of Africa, I am pleased to kindly request you to lead the AU election observation mission to Nigeria,” Faki said in a letter to Uhuru dated January 9.

The nomination is yet another continental vote of confidence in the former president who is currently Kenya’s peace envoy to the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.

The Nigerian mission will comprise AU representatives committee, Pan-African Parliament, election management agencies, independent election experts and civil society organisations.

The former head of state is set to arrive in Nigeria on Monday next week until March 3.

“While in Abuja, you will hold consultations with the political leadership of the country and electoral stakeholders in a bid to promote credible, transparent and peaceful electoral process before, during and after the elections,” Faki said. 

AU has also informed Kenyan embassy and Permanent Mission to the AU of their choice of the former president to lead the mission.

The deployment, Faki said, is in line with the AU’s democracy instruments, especially the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Uhuru’s expenses while in Nigeria will be covered by the AU Commission.

Nigerians will vote in their new president and national legislators on February 25. This will be followed by election on state legislators and governors on March 11.

Close to 100 million voters are expected to participate in polls that will be conducted by Independent Electoral Commission.

Voting will take place in 176,846 polling units nationwide located in 8,809 wards or registration areas in 774 local government areas.

INEC says it has acquired at least 194,464 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the election to be managed by over 1.4 million ad-hoc officials.

Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is ineligible to run after hitting his term limit.

Currently, Uhuru is the leader of the AU-led peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the August 9, 2022 general election in Kenya, AU and the East African Community were among the agencies that dispatched teams to observe the polls.

Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete led the EAC team.

 

(edited by Amol Awuor)

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