Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is leading a team of election observers in South Africa, says he is concerned about the country’s new registration procedures.
“What we were a bit worried about is people who have not gone to their provinces to vote,” he tells the BBC.
“Previously, voters could cast their ballots in major cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg or Cape Town without much hassle.
“However, this time, voters needed to apply to the electoral commission for reassignment if they wanted to vote outside their registered province.”
Jonathan, who led Nigeria from 2010 to 2015, says many voters had not completed this process, mistakenly believing they could vote as before.
The 66-year-old also says “confusion over the introduction of a third ballot, a move aimed at accommodating independent candidates for the first time in South Africa’s history, could also have ramifications.
“Voter education will need to take place even at the voting centres, which will slow down the process,” he says.
