Abuja: Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for an urgent national stakeholders’ engagement to address the emerging trend of serving governors, senior public officials, and political gladiators descending on states during off-cycle elections. Jonathan made the call in a statement personally signed by him on Tuesday in Abuja, entitled: ‘Osun and the Need to Set New Boundaries for Political Conduct in Off-Cycle Elections.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Jonathan warned that the practice witnessed during recent governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States, if left unchecked, could create undue pressure that could threaten Nigeria’s fragile democracy. While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, and the people of Osun for the peaceful conduct of the governorship election, Jonathan stressed that political mobilization on election day must have boundaries.
He emphasized that the outcome of the state election demonstrated that
Nigeria still possessed the capacity to conduct elections in a manner that strengthens public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions. Jonathan noted concerns over the growing practice of influential figures from outside a state converging on states where elections are being conducted, which he believes demands national attention.
The former president recalled similar situations during his presidency, specifically referencing the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections, where he had to intervene by ordering party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately. Jonathan described the trend as unwholesome and warned that, if left unchecked, it could pose serious long-term implications for democratic stability.
Jonathan acknowledged that political parties have the right to campaign, mobilize supporters, and deploy legitimate party structures, which are essential aspects of democracy. However, he cautioned against overwhelming political mobilization, which can cre
ate an atmosphere of intimidation and undue pressure on election day. He questioned whether such practices are consistent with the spirit of free, fair, and peaceful democratic competition, noting that this rarely occurs in other democratic countries.
The former president raised concerns about the precedent being set and the potential consequences if the current trend becomes established. He warned that such developments could deepen political tensions and transform elections into battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the people’s mandate. Jonathan emphasized that the issue should not be viewed as a partisan dispute, but rather a broader national concern regarding the future of Nigeria’s electoral democracy.
Jonathan urged the National Peace Committee to convene a stakeholders’ engagement to provide a neutral platform for political leaders and other stakeholders to reflect on the emerging practices around elections and agree on standards to protect Nigeria’s democracy and preserve
peace. He suggested that this engagement should include key stakeholders such as the leadership of registered political parties, INEC, relevant security agencies, the leadership of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organizations, and the media.
Jonathan expressed confidence in the National Peace Committee’s ability to lead this conversation, given its established moral authority and experience in bringing political leaders together during moments of national tension. He stressed the importance of an early national conversation to establish appropriate boundaries and expectations for political conduct before current unusual practices become normalized.