Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over the growing practice of serving governors, senior political office holders and party leaders converging on states during off-cycle elections, warning that the trend could undermine Nigeria’s fragile democracy if allowed to continue.
Jonathan made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 18, in Abuja, following the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
During the Osun election, several governors and senior members of the All Progressives Congress mobilised to Osogbo in support of the party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who eventually finished second behind the incumbent governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke.
Jonathan noted that similar patterns were witnessed during the governorship elections in Ekiti and Ondo states, describing the increasing involvement of serving governors and other influential officials on election day as unusual and potentially dangerous.
While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for the conduct of the election, he said political mobilisation during elections must have clear boundaries.
“While we commend the electoral process itself, there are developments surrounding the election and, more importantly, an emerging trend in political conduct during off-cycle elections that raises concerns,” Jonathan said.
He added that the growing practice of serving governors, senior government officials, party leaders and other influential political figures arriving in states holding elections with large entourages and heavy security details from outside the state required urgent national attention.
“The conduct witnessed around the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states was, in my view, unusual. It is not a practice that should become normal in a democratic society,” he said.
Jonathan Recalls 2013 Anambra, 2014 Ekiti Elections
The former President recalled that similar situations occurred during his administration when Anambra and Ekiti states held governorship elections in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
According to him, he ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the affected states after being briefed about their presence.
“Upon being briefed, I ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately,” Jonathan said.
He acknowledged that political parties had the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures, describing such activities as essential to democracy.
However, he warned that the presence of large numbers of serving governors, senior public officials and powerful political actors from across the country on election day could create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure.
“We must ask ourselves whether the increasing deployment of political power and large-scale mobilisation by senior office holders on election day in states holding elections is consistent with the spirit of free, fair and peaceful democratic competition,” he said.
Jonathan argued that Nigeria should avoid a situation where political competition becomes a contest in which victory is pursued at all costs.
He questioned what could happen if governors from opposing political parties began moving into every state where competitive elections were being held.
“What happens when each party seeks to match political power with political power, governmental influence with governmental influence, and mobilisation with counter-mobilisation?” he asked.
According to him, such a development would increase political tensions and gradually transform elections from peaceful contests for the people’s mandate into battles for political survival.
Calls for National Dialogue
Jonathan also urged political leaders and public officials to recognise the responsibility that comes with holding public office, stressing that their influence should be used to strengthen democratic institutions rather than create fear among political opponents and citizens.
He subsequently called on the National Peace Committee to convene a stakeholders’ engagement to discuss emerging political practices around elections and establish acceptable standards for political conduct.
He said the proposed engagement should provide a neutral platform for political leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how to protect Nigeria’s democracy and preserve peace.
According to Jonathan, participants should include the leadership of registered political parties, INEC, relevant security agencies, the National Assembly, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.
“I believe that the National Peace Committee is particularly well placed to lead this conversation because of the confidence and moral authority it has built over the years in bringing political leaders together at moments of national tension,” he said.
Jonathan stressed the need for an early national conversation before practices that are currently considered unusual become accepted as normal.
“An early national conversation can help us establish appropriate boundaries and expectations for political conduct before practices that are unusual today become accepted as normal tomorrow,” the former President added.