The Commonwealth Observer Group has urged political candidates not satisfied with the election result to address issues legally.
This was said by the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group and former President of South Africa, His Excellency Thabo Mbeki on Monday, when he presented the Commonwealth Observation group preliminary report in Abuja.
The Punch reported that members of the Commonwealth Observers Group were in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Edo, Kano, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers and Sokoto states to observe the presidential and National Assembly election.
This group observed the voting processes ranging from accreditations to casting votes, counting and results compilation.
Mbeki said, “We call on all those with grievances to address disputes through prescribed legal channels.”
He urged Nigerians to be patient and allow the Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the collation of voting results peacefully.
“The time now is for restraint and continued patience as we await the final results,” he said.
According to The Punch, the former president said the election was “largely peaceful” despite administrative and logistics challenges in some polling units.
Commending the commitment and patience of Nigerians, Mbeki said, “We congratulate all Nigerians for their determination, patience and resilience displayed throughout the electoral process.”
According to The Punch, the chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group also noted that the new Electoral Act, which was passed in 2022 and provided the electoral commission with more autonomy, legal support for the use of electronic voter accreditation, and frameworks for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the elections, among other things, was another improvement.
At the request of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, established the Commonwealth Observer Group.
The group will finish its final report, which will include its recommendations, before departing Nigeria on March 2. The report will then be delivered to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.