Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been appointed by the Commonwealth as head of its 13-member Election Observers Mission for Pakistan’s general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024.
Jonathan, who previously served as Nigeria’s President from 2010 to 2015, would lead a team of experts to observe and provide an independent assessment of the electoral process.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, in a statement expressed gratitude to the former president for accepting the role, while highlighting the importance of his leadership, experience and wisdom in the mission.
“I am grateful that the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has once again accepted our invitation to serve as Chair of an election observer group,” she said.
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The statement also noted that a 13-member Observer Group was due to arrive in Islamabad on February 1, 2024 and will remain in the country until the electoral process is completed.
“The team of observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and where appropriate, make recommendations for further strengthening of the electoral system.
“It is hoped that these recommendations will be of benefit to the people and government of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes.
“The Commonwealth Secretariat would be ready to assist with this process, if deemed necessary,” she said.
Scotland explained that members of the observer group will be stationed across the country all through their stay.
She also called on all stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, to contribute to a peaceful election in keeping with the Commonwealth values.
The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the Commonwealth, is an international association of 56 member states, the majority of which are former territories of the British Empire from which it developed.
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