Kazeem Owoseni

The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has been assigned to lead the Commonwealth Election Observer Group in Sierra leone, on June 24, 2023.

According to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, Osinbajo accepted to chair the group in the election, which is coming up in June, this year.

However, as the chairperson of the group, the Vice-President is expected to lead a team of experts, in observing the general election in the country.

Meanwhile, he would be joined by dignitaries from various fields, including; legal, media, gender and election administration professionals from across the Commonwealth nations, to carry out the task.

The group is saddled with the responsibility to consider whether conditions exist for credible, transparent, inclusive, and fair elections and whether the media is impartial in its reportage of the electioneering process.

Speaking while appreciating the professor of law, for accepting the commitment, Ms Scotland said the VP understands in-depth, the Challenges across West Africa, expressing confidence that, he will lead a brilliant team.

“I am grateful to Yemi Osinbajo for accepting my invitation, to undertake this important area of our work in deepening democracy across our Commonwealth — despite his busy schedule and overseeing a seamless transition of his government.

“As a senior statesman from the region, Osinbajo understands in depth the challenges across West Africa and I am confident he will lead a brilliant team,” she said.

However, Professor Osinbajo, while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to chair the Commonwealth observer group, said he was highly honoured for the unique opportunity, to bring his experience to deepen democracy in Africa.

“I’m highly honoured by the unique opportunity to continue to bring my expertise and experience in contributing to deepening democracy, especially in Africa, and the Commonwealth by extension,” he said.

The outgoing Vice-President will be handing over to the newly-elected Vice-President, Senator Kassim Shettima, on May 29, 2023.