Osinbajo to steer Commonwealth observer group

Nigeria’s outgoing Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has been appointed to steer the Commonwealth election observers group for the Sierra Leone basic elections.

The final elections in Sierra Leone are scheduled for twenty-four June.

Mr Osinbajo was appointed by the Commonwealth Secretary-Normal, Patricia Scotland, who expressed her gratitude to the outgoing vp.

Ms Scotland expressed her confidence that Mr Osinbajo will lead the crew effectively based mostly on his understanding of the challenges throughout West Africa.

“I’m grateful to His Excellency Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for accepting my invitation to undertake this essential space of our work in deepening democracy throughout our Commonwealth – regardless of his busy schedule and overseeing a seamless transition of his authorities,” she was quoted as saying.

Mr Osinbajo will lead an professional crew of politicians, authorized, media, gender and election administration professionals from throughout the Commonwealth to hold out the duty.

“I’m extremely honoured by the distinctive alternative to proceed to deliver my experience and expertise in contributing to deepening democracy, particularly in Africa, and the Commonwealth by extension,” Mr Osinbajo stated.

Mandate of the Commonwealth Observer Group

Upon arriving in Sierra Leone, the mandate of the Commonwealth Observer Group can be to look at the electoral course of and supply an impartial evaluation of whether or not the election has been performed in a reputable method. The group will then report on the conduct of the elections in accordance with the requirements to which Sierra Leone has dedicated itself, together with its personal legal guidelines.

In keeping with Commonwealth methodology, the group will contemplate, amongst different issues, whether or not circumstances exist for credible and inclusive elections, together with a good election setting; whether or not public media has been neutral; the transparency of the whole course of; and whether or not voters are free to specific their will.

Upon completion of its task, the group will submit its suggestions in a report back to the Commonwealth Secretary-Normal, who will subsequently share it with the Authorities of Sierra Leone, the Electoral Fee, political events and all Commonwealth governments.

Sierra Leone Elections

The 24 June elections will see Sierra Leone elect a brand new president or re-elect its incumbent, Julius Bio, who is among the two main contenders for the West African nation’s topmost place.

The opposite contender is Samura Kamara who was the runner-up within the 2018 presidential elections. He got here second behind Mr Bio in that election.

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Each candidates have been accepted by the Electoral Fee of Sierra Leone (ECSL).

Whereas Mr Bio is of the ruling Sierra Leone Folks’s Celebration (SLPP), Mr Kamara is of the All Folks’s Congress (APC).

Mr Bio can be working after a primary time period marred by financial hardship and rampant inflation in a rustic nonetheless recovering from the 2014 Ebola outbreak earlier than the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Mr Kamara served as central financial institution governor, finance minister and overseas affairs minister between 2008 and 2018.