The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has concluded its mission to observe Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections and released its final report detailing observations and recommendations for improvements in the electoral process.
Led by former South African President HE Thabo Mbeki, the COG arrived in Abuja on February 18, 2023, deploying a multi-disciplinary team supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The report highlights Nigeria’s vibrant political landscape and the active participation of civil society, with over 4,500 citizen observers contributing to the transparency of the electoral process.
However, the report also identifies significant shortcomings, including failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal, which impacted the credibility and inclusivity of the elections.
Despite the passage of the new Electoral Act 2022, further institutional and legal reforms are recommended, particularly regarding campaign finance and the inclusion of marginalized groups.
One notable recommendation focuses on media ethics, urging state-owned and private media houses to adhere to professional codes of conduct to ensure impartial and equitable coverage for all political parties and candidates.
Additionally, the report emphasizes the need to address the lack of women’s political representation through measures such as seat quotas and temporary special measures.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, acknowledged the progress made since the COG’s 2019 report but stressed the importance of continued reforms.
She called upon Nigerian stakeholders to implement the recommendations and offered support from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The COG’s report, finalized and approved by the Chairperson and observers, provides a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process and builds upon initial findings issued shortly after the elections.
It underscores the Commonwealth’s commitment to democratic principles and international election observation.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, dedicated to shared goals of development, democracy, and peace.
Commonwealth Observer Groups operate independently, with members invited in their personal capacity as eminent Commonwealth citizens, ensuring impartiality and transparency in the electoral observation process.
