Goodluck Jonathan arrives Zambia to lead election observers from AU

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday touched down in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, where he will lead a team of observers from the African Union.

Mr. Jonathan immediately convened a press conference to introduce his team to local authorities, as well as other international agencies on ground for the poll which is slated for August 11.

The AU had appointed Mr. Jonathan as the head of its Election Observer Mission last week, a team that included high profile personalities, diplomats, civic groups and experts.

‘The objective is to ensure that the AU-EOM approaches its work with added professionalism and factual analysis of all aspects of the electoral process in Zambia,” the AU said in a statement.

Zambian election authorities said an estimated 6.6 million voters were expected to cast their ballots in the southern African nation of 14.5 million people.

Incumbent President Edgar Lungu is facing a challenge from nine other contestants.