Jonathan raises alarm over governor gatherings during elections

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed worry about the rising trend of governors, senior political figures, and party leaders flocking to states where off-cycle elections are happening. He believes this could harm Nigeria's democratic stability.

Jonathan shared his thoughts in a statement on his X handle on Tuesday. He was commenting on the Osun governorship election that recently took place.

He praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, and the people of Osun State for a peaceful election. But he pointed out a concerning trend in political behavior during these off-cycle polls.

Jonathan mentioned that the actions seen in the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states were not normal and should not be accepted in a democratic society.

"The growing practice whereby serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential government functionaries, accompanied by large numbers of aides and heavy security details from outside a state, converge on states where elections are being conducted raises an issue that demands national attention."

He recalled similar situations from the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president.

"I recall that, as President, similar situations arose during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections. On those occasions, senior political leaders mobilised and descended upon the states. Upon being briefed, I ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately," he said.

Jonathan warned that this trend could lead to fear, intimidation, and undue pressure during elections.

"This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability," he said.

He recognized that political parties have the right to campaign, gather supporters, and use their party structures. But he argued that the heavy presence of senior officials and powerful politicians on election days could hurt fair competition.

"Political parties are entitled to campaign, mobilise their supporters and deploy their legitimate party structures. That is an essential part of democracy. However, 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.

Jonathan questioned if the increasing use of political power and large-scale movement by senior figures during off-cycle elections was in line with fair democratic practices.

"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.

He added, "This hardly happens in other democratic countries."

Jonathan also cautioned against treating political battles as fights where winning is the only goal.

"We must not allow political competition to become a contest in which victory is perceived as something that must be achieved at all costs," he said.

He said the situation could worsen if governors from rival parties began using their power to influence elections in competitive states.

"What happens when governors from opposing political parties begin to descend 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.

Jonathan said this would raise political tensions and turn elections into battles for survival instead of peaceful attempts to win the voters' trust.

He urged political leaders to see this issue as a national concern, not just a fight over the Osun election.

"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 reminded past and current officials that their actions carry more weight.

"Those of us who have occupied public office must recognise that our conduct carries a greater responsibility. 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.

This warning came after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the August 15 governorship election. Adeleke, the Accord candidate, got 511,067 votes, defeating his closest rival, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who received 444,815 votes.