Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a national framework to regulate the conduct of political actors during off-cycle elections, warning that the growing deployment of serving governors, senior political office holders and heavy security details could undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Jonathan made the call while reacting to the recent governorship election in Osun State, which he said demonstrated that, despite the challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy, the country still has the capacity to conduct elections in ways that strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and, particularly, the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the election, but raised concerns over what he described as an emerging and troubling pattern in political conduct during off-cycle elections.
Jonathan said the growing practice of serving governors, senior political leaders and influential government officials converging on states where elections are being conducted, accompanied by large numbers of aides and heavy security details from outside the state, was unusual and should not become normal in a democratic society.
He recalled that similar situations occurred during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was President, adding that he directed party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately 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,” Jonathan said.
According to him, political parties have the legitimate right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy their party structures, but political mobilisation must not cross the line into conduct capable of intimidating voters or political opponents.
“There is a point at which political mobilisation, particularly when it involves the overwhelming presence of serving governors, senior public officials and powerful political actors from across the country on election day, can create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation, bullying and undue pressure,” he said.
The former President questioned whether the increasing deployment of political power and large-scale mobilisation by senior office holders during elections was consistent with the principles of free, fair and peaceful democratic competition.
“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 also warned that the trend could create a dangerous precedent if governors from opposing political parties begin descending on every state holding a competitive election.
“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.
He warned that such a development could heighten political tensions and transform elections from peaceful contests into battles for political survival.
“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,” Jonathan said.
He stressed that the issue should not be treated as a partisan dispute concerning the Osun election, describing it instead as a broader national concern requiring collective reflection on the future of Nigeria’s electoral democracy.
“I therefore believe that this matter should not be treated as a partisan dispute concerning the Osun election. It is a broader national issue concerning the future of our electoral democracy,” he said.
Jonathan urged those who have occupied public office to recognise the responsibility that comes with political power, stressing that the influence attached to public office should be used to strengthen democratic institutions rather than create apprehension among political opponents and citizens.
“The power and influence attached to public office should be used to strengthen democratic institutions, not to create apprehension among political opponents or citizens,” he said.
He therefore called on the National Peace Committee to convene an early stakeholders’ engagement to examine emerging practices around off-cycle elections and develop standards capable of protecting democracy and preserving peace.
He proposed that the meeting should bring together leaders 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 conversation because of the confidence and moral authority it had built over the years in bringing political leaders together during periods of national tension.
“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,” he said.
