The Commonwealth Observer Mission to the Nigerian general elections, AU and ECOWAS counterparts on Monday declared Nigeria’s general elections as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Former Ghanaian President and Head, ECOWAS Mission, John Kuffor, said this while fielding questions from the State House correspondents after a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan.
On the visit to the president were the Leader of the Commonwealth Observer Mission and former Malawi President, Basili Muluzi, as well as Amos Sawyer, ex-Liberian President and AU Mission Leader.
The mission leaders commended the Nigerian electorate for the success achieved and urged that the tempo be maintained until after the declaration of the results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Now we have come to a point where we believe, from what we have seen, I am sure you heard yesterday some of us declared that the election had been peaceful, transparent and credible up to yesterday. We appreciate the process is not yet done till the results are declared and of course the aftermaths of the declaration.
But we have come this far and we needed to give an interim report to the authorities that mandated us to come; and to the world and to Nigerians in particular to let everybody know that so far Nigeria has been at peace with the process.
So, we appeal to Nigeria to continue in this mood through the entire process so that at the end of the day the people of Nigeria will be satisfied with themselves that they used the process to give themselves the government they want, they deserve,” they said.
Kuffor said the mission observed the elections in all parts of the country and the interim report was to let the world to know that the process was peaceful in the country.
He further gave kudos to President Goodluck Jonathan for creating the appropriate environment for the peaceful polls.
“At this point, some of us must go back to our homes and we couldn’t go without coming to the state house here to pay our respect to the President, his vice, for the good work they have done. Because it is under their watch that this peaceful, transparent and credible election has been happening.Naturally they should be congratulated for the work done so far.’’
He also commended the Nigerian electorate for their conduct so far and urged the people to maintain the peace.
He said as the mission leaders were departing they were leaving “the rest of our observer teams behind to see through the entire process, hopefully to very successful conclusions so they make the final report to the world.”
