Nigeria’s ex-President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has been chosen by the Commonwealth to lead its Election Observation Mission in Pakistan.
This appointment was confirmed in a statement released by Ikechukwu Eze, the Special Adviser to the former Nigerian leader.
Jonathan will be heading a team of experts from different fields within the Commonwealth to observe the general elections in Pakistan, which are scheduled for February 8.
The goal of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) is to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation of the electoral process. To assist them in this task, they will be supported by a team led by Linford Andrews, the Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The observer group, consisting of 13 members, is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on February 1 and will stay in the country until the electoral process is finished.
Eze also mentioned that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, thanked Jonathan for accepting this task.
Scotland also expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and accountability. Scotland showed support for Pakistan’s democratic progress and expressed hope for a peaceful and fair election.
It urged all parties, including political organizations and their supporters, to actively participate in ensuring a peaceful election that upholds the values of the Commonwealth.
Moreover, Scotland stated that a detailed report, which includes recommendations to improve upcoming electoral processes, will be presented to the Pakistani government, the Election Commission, and other pertinent stakeholders.
