Warns against increasing mobilisation of serving govs, others for such exercise
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the establishment of clear boundaries for political conduct during off-cycle elections, warning that the increasing mobilisation of serving governors, senior political office holders and other influential figures could undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Jonathan, in a statement on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, a copy of which was made available to newsmen by his Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for what he described as the peaceful conduct of the poll.
However, he expressed concern over what he described as an emerging and “unwholesome” trend in which serving governors, senior government officials, party leaders and their aides, often accompanied by heavy security details, converge on states holding elections.
Recalled that the incumbent, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party (AP) winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as he polled a total of 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 444,815 votes.
According to the former president, the practice witnessed during the recent governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, where serving governors, senior government officials, among others, converge on states holding elections, was unusual and should not become normal in a democratic society.
Jonathan recalled that similar situations occurred during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president, saying he ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states after being briefed about their presence.
“This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability,” he warned.
The former president acknowledged the right of political parties to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures, but cautioned that excessive mobilisation by powerful political actors on election day could create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure.
Jonathan questioned whether the growing deployment of political power and large-scale mobilisation by senior office holders during elections was consistent with the spirit of free, fair and peaceful democratic competition, and also warned against allowing political contests to become battles in which victory is pursued at all costs.
He said if the trend continued unchecked, governors from opposing political parties could begin descending on every state holding a competitive election, leading to a cycle of political mobilisation and counter-mobilisation.
“Such a development would not strengthen our democracy. It would deepen political tensions and could make elections increasingly resemble battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the mandate of the people,” he said.
Jonathan stressed that the issue should not be viewed as a partisan dispute over the Osun election but as a broader national concern requiring attention from all stakeholders.
He, therefore, urged former and serving public officials to recognise the greater responsibility attached to their positions, saying their power and influence should be deployed to strengthen democratic institutions rather than create apprehension among political opponents and citizens.
The former president subsequently called on the National Peace Committee to convene an urgent stakeholders’ engagement to examine emerging practices surrounding elections and develop standards for political conduct that would promote peace and protect democracy.
He proposed that the meeting should involve the leadership of registered political parties, INEC, relevant security agencies, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.
Jonathan said the National Peace Committee was particularly suited to lead the initiative because of the confidence and moral authority it had built through its interventions in moments of national political tension.
He argued that an early national conversation would help establish appropriate boundaries and expectations for political conduct before practices currently considered unusual become accepted as normal.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, is the founder and chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.
