The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) has announced that its election observation mission (EOM) led by former President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived in South Africa to observe the national and provincial elections of the country.
A statement issued before the May 8 elections by the South African-based EISA quoted former President Jonathan as saying that the polls would provide another opportunity for South Africans to exercise their right to vote and deepen the roots of the nation’s democracy.
Mr Jonathan said in the arrival statement: “It is a great pleasure for me to lead the EISA election observation mission to South Africa’s 2019 national and provincial elections. These elections that come in the 25th year of the democratic journey of South Africa are of great importance as they provide South Africans with another opportunity to exercise their right to vote and thus support the democratic consolidation of the country.
“EISA EOM seeks to contribute through its findings and recommendations to the integrity of the electoral process.”
The statement added that the Jonathan-led observer mission comprised of 37 international observers from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Election Management Bodies (EMBs), and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) from 16 African countries, including Mr. Denis Kadima, EISA’s Executive Director, as the Deputy Mission Leader. It is the fifth EOM that EISA has been deploying since the 1999 elections in South Africa.
It also said: “EISA observers will be deployed to all nine South African provinces in 18 teams to observe the last days of election campaigns, pre-polling activities, special voting, and election day and post-polling activities. The EISA EOM will issue a statement on its preliminary findings on the electoral process on 10 May 2019.
The EISA EOM is in South Africa at the invitation of South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to conduct an independent evaluation of the electoral process and contribute through its findings and recommendations to its integrity.
“These elections are the sixth to be held since Apartheid came to an end and the 1996 Constitution was adopted. They coincide with the 25th anniversary since the country held its first direct universal suffrage elections, marking a critical milestone on the democratic journey of the country. Consequently, a peaceful and successful election will further cement the country’s democratic gains over the past generation. In South Africa, EISA is pleased to be part of this historic moment.
Former President Jonathan would be leading the EISA EOM for the second time, having led a similar mission to last year’s presidential election in Sierra Leone.
He had previously led other missions of international election observers to many countries including Tanzania, Zambia, and Liberia.
Mr Jonathan has lent his support to the efforts to consolidate democracy in Africa since leaving office in 2015.