Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), has called for credible and peaceful Sierra Leone general elections that will reflect the will of the people. He stated clearly that the COG will be guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity, and independence.
At a press conference today, the Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), H.E. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria, urged all citizens in Sierra Leone to do their part to ensure that a peaceful and credible process takes place during the elections on June 24.
At least 17 registered political parties are contesting local council, parliamentary, and presidential elections, with approximately 3.37 million registered voters expected at the polls. It will be the fifth time the Commonwealth is observing national elections in Sierra Leone since the end of the Civil War in 2002.
Prof. Osinbajo said:
“The eyes of more than 2.5 billion people in the Commonwealth—more than 60% of whom are young people under the age of 30—will be upon Sierra Leone. Watching, in solidarity, and in hope.
“The peaceful and prosperous future of the nation lies in your hands. And in that future, violence, division, and hate cannot play a part. The hard lessons that history has taught us through the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods—we cannot afford to repeat them.”
Prof. Osinbajo, who arrived in Freetown on June 17, is leading a group of 11 other international experts (full list below) to observe and assess the election process.
He emphasised that the Observer Group has no executive role. Its function is not to interfere with but to independently observe the pre-election environment, polling day, and post-election period. The group will then provide recommendations to improve the process.
Full schedule
The COG commenced intensive briefings over the past weekend and will spend the coming days in discussions with various stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, government representatives, political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, citizen and international observer groups, diplomats, and the media.
On June 22, Commonwealth observers will be deployed in small teams across various parts of the country to observe the voting, counting, and results processes, as well as meet with other stakeholders in their respective locations.
Among other factors, the observers will assess whether conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment; whether the public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; whether voters are free to express their will; and whether the counting and results process is transparent.
The COG plans to issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on June 26 before members depart Sierra Leone by June 30.
Prof. Osinbajo underscored:
“In conducting our duties, we will be guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity, and independence. As we are here in our individual capacities as eminent and experienced Commonwealth citizens, our assessment will be our own and not that of any member government.
“As this great nation expresses its will for its future, may peace, justice, and national unity prevail above all. We enjoin all political parties and their supporters to uphold the commitments of the Electoral Pledge to free, fair, and violence-free elections, admirably signed barely two weeks ago.”
A final report by the COG will be subsequently prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Then, it will be shared with relevant stakeholders, including the public.
Read the chair’s full arrival statement:
Members of the media
Fellow observers
Citizens of Sierra Leone
It is a privilege to be here once again in Freetown. I am home.
Today, I am here not only as a neighbour and fellow African but also as a fellow Commonwealth citizen, standing for the precious values we all share: peace, democracy, the rule of law, and good governance. It is an honour for me to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group to witness the multi-tier elections taking place within the coming days, on June 24.
Our 12-member observer group was constituted by the Commonwealth. Secretary-General, The Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, following an invitation from the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone to observe the poll. Members have been drawn from across the entire Commonwealth, representing a wealth of experience and including experts in law, politics, election administration, human rights, media, and civil society. The group is supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Linford Andrews, Head of Electoral Support at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that the warm welcome we have received
Sierra Leone has lived up to and even exceeded its reputation as the “Home of Hospitality”.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Commonwealth Secretariat has had a long-standing engagement with Sierra Leone dating back to its independence, when the country became an independent state within the Commonwealth in 1961.
The Commonwealth has observed every election in Sierra Leone since the end of the civil war in 2002, as well as the general elections of 1996.
In other words, the Commonwealth has been an enduring companion to the nation on this extraordinary journey, witnessing the country’s evolution into what it is today.
Today, we recognise the significance of these elections for the people of Sierra Leone, the region, and the global community, and we wholly appreciate the challenges they present.
The gains achieved over the last two decades of peacetime are a testament to the democratic spirit of its people and must be cherished, nurtured, and leveraged for continued peaceful and sustainable development. That is why, as the Commonwealth Observer Group, we are honoured to be a part of this important democratic process.
But let me be clear:
The Commonwealth Observer Group has no executive role; its function is not to interfere with but to observe the process as a whole and to make recommendations accordingly. We will observe the pre-election environment, polling day activities, and the post-election period. In particular, we will consider whether the conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment; whether the public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; whether voters are free to express their will; and whether the counting and results process is transparent. We will then report on whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards to which Sierra Leone has committed itself, including its national law and regional and international commitments.
In conducting our duties, we will be guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity, and independence. As we are here in our individual capacities as responsible and experienced Commonwealth citizens, our assessment will be our own and not that of any member government. That said, we have a very active period ahead of us.
Over the coming days, we will be meeting stakeholders, including the electoral commission for Sierra Leone, government representatives, political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, citizen and international observer groups, diplomats, and the media. From the 22nd of June, we will deploy our observers in small teams across various parts of the country to observe the voting, counting, and results processes, as well as meet with other stakeholders in their respective locations. On Election Day, we will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting, and results management processes. We will issue an interim statement on our preliminary findings on the 26th of June, before members of the group depart Sierra Leone on the 30th of June. A final report will then be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, subsequently shared with relevant stakeholders, and made publicly available.
Friends, colleagues,
As you are well aware, this is a crucial and delicate period. It is my hope that our presence here affirms the unwavering support of the Commonwealth for this country and its democratic processes. The eyes of more than 2.5 billion people in the Commonwealth, more than 60% of whom are young people under the age of 30, will be upon Sierra Leone. Watching, in solidarity, and in hope. The peaceful and prosperous future of the nation lies in your hands. And in that future, violence, division, and hate cannot play a part. The hard lessons that history has taught us through the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods are ones we cannot afford to repeat.
Therefore, as 3.3 million registered voters come forth to exercise their democratic rights on Election Day and as this great nation expresses its will for its future, may peace, justice, and national unity prevail above all. We enjoin all political parties and their supporters to uphold the commitments of the Electoral Pledge to free, fair, and violence-free elections, signed by the political parties barely two weeks ago. And we encourage all citizens to do their part to ensure that a peaceful and credible process takes place on the 24th of June. As the Great Mandela, Nelson Mandela, once emphasised: It is not our diversity that divides us; it is only the division between those who cherish democracy and those who do not. On behalf of the Commonwealth Observer Group, I wish the people of Sierra Leone well as they embark upon this election.
I thank you.
