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