Retired Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has told afternoon jetted in Abuja, Nigeria to head the African Union’s Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to Nigeria ahead of the General Elections slated for Saturday this week.
Kenyatta who has touched down at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport will lead the AUEOM in the federal Republic of Nigeria.
The AU appointed to lead the recently launched AUEOM.
The mission draws its mandate from various AU instruments and will be supported by experts from the African Union Commission (AUC).
The AUEOM which comprises of 90 members drawn from various AU member States will, among other tasks, engage different stakeholders as well as observe and provide an accurate and impartial assessment of the electoral process in Africa’s most populous country.
The continental body announced having granted him his third regional role since he retired in September 2022.
Kenyatta served as the president of Kenya between 2013 and 2022 before retiring.
Soon after he retired, the AU appointed him as a member of the troika of negotiators in the conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
The team also had former Nigerian President Olusegun Obadanjo and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Uhuru is also the East Africa Community (EAC) official peace facilitator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict.
The African Union said the team will “provide an accurate and impartial assessment of the electoral process, including the degree to which the conduct of the elections meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections”.
It will be composed of representatives from AU member states including officials from electoral bodies, civil society, independent experts and officials from the AU.
Electoral observation missions, though appointed by the African Union, are supposed to present an impartial report of events and provide recommendations “for improvement of future elections based on the findings”. They will also be expected to show solidarity and support for Nigeria’s political stability.
They will meet with electoral officials, contestants, civil society and security officials in Nigeria before issuing a preliminary report by February 27.
Nigerians head to the polls on February 25 in elections that will see them elect senators, governors and a president to replace Muhammadu Buhari who is retiring.