Former President Uhuru Kenyatta was welcomed by Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama ahead of Saturday’s elections. Uhuru Kenyatta leads the AU Election Observation Mission for the Nigerian General Elections. The delegation included Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the African Union Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, as well as other officials.
Nigeria’s general elections will take place on Saturday, February 25. The African Union appointed Uhuru to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The mission will be supported by experts from the African Union Commission and mandated by various AU instruments. AUEOM has 90 members from various AU member countries.
Uhuru Kenyatta and other AUEOM officials will engage various stakeholders as well as observe and provide an accurate and impartial assessment of Africa’s most populous country’s electoral process.
In a letter to Uhuru dated January 9, AU commission chairperson Moussa Faki stated that the former president of Kenya was chosen because he has a strong commitment to democracy and peace in Africa.
Faki said, “While in Abuja, you will hold consultations with the political leadership of the country and electoral stakeholders in a bid to promote a credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral process before, during and after the elections.”