Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Former Vice President for the Federal Republic of Nigeria has arrived in Sierra Leone ahead of the June 24th general elections.

He is in the country to lead the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to Sierra Leone ahead of the elections.

His arrival announcement and appointment was made known on the 25th May, 2023 by Josephine Latu-Sanft, the Senior Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, confirmed on same date, that Former Vice President Osinbajo has accepted her request to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG).

The Secretary-General constituted the observer group upon invitation from the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone.

Furthering on the publication made, it was recorded that, Prof Osinbajo is a Professor of Law and one of the nation’s leading legal experts, serving as Vice President of Nigeria since May 2015 and that, He will be joined by recognised dignitaries from various fields including, politicians, legal, media, gender and election administration professionals from across the Commonwealth to carry out the task.

The mandate of the commonwealth observer group upon arriving in Sierra Leone will be to observe the electoral process and provide an independent assessment of whether the election has been conducted in a credible manner. The Group will then report on the conduct of the elections in accordance with the standards to which Sierra Leone has committed itself, including its own laws.

In line with Commonwealth methodology, The Group will consider, among other things, whether conditions exist for credible and inclusive elections, including a fair election environment; whether public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; and whether voters are free to express their will.

Upon completion of its assignment, the Group will submit its recommendations in a report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will subsequently share it with the Government of Sierra Leone, the Electoral Commission, political parties and all Commonwealth governments, as was reported by the Senior Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, Josephine Latu-Sanft.



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