LONDON, England (CMC) — Two Caribbean Community (Caricom) nationals have been included in a Commonwealth team, headed by former South African President Thabo Mbeki, which will monitor the February 25 general elections in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democratic country.

Former St Lucia Government Minister and House of Assembly Speaker Sarah Flood-Beaubrun and Ian Browne, deputy chief electoral officer in Barbados, will join 14 other observers including politicians; diplomats; and experts in law, human rights, gender equality and election administration from the Commonwealth, in monitoring the elections.

As of January 2023 an estimated 93.4 million registered voters will have the right to cast ballots for presidential and national assembly candidates in 176,846 polling units across 774 local government areas.

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, KC, named the observer team following an invitation from Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The Commonwealth remains a committed and reliable partner in Nigeria’s continuing journey towards peaceful democratic governance. Since 1999 we have observed all six general elections in Nigeria, and the deployment of this observer group is a testament to the Commonwealth’s enduring support for the promotion of the culture, processes and institutions of democracy in Nigeria,” the Dominican-born Scotland said.