Osun Election: Nigeria’s Ex President, Jonathan Raises Alarm Over ‘Unwholesome’ Influx of Governors, Political Leaders into Off-Cycle Elections
Ex President Goodluck Jonathan
By Arit Mbeh
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over the growing practice of serving governors, senior political office holders and influential party leaders converging on states during off-cycle elections, warning that the trend could undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Jonathan, in a statement on the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun for the peaceful conduct of the poll.
He, however, said developments surrounding the election, as well as similar occurrences during recent off-cycle elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, required urgent national attention.
According to the former president, the increasing mobilisation of serving governors, senior government officials and large numbers of aides and security personnel from outside states holding elections was “unusual” and should not become normal practice in a democracy.
Jonathan recalled that similar situations occurred during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president.
He said he had, upon being briefed about the presence of senior political leaders in those states, directed party leaders and senior government officials to leave immediately.
“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 stressed that political parties had the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures, but cautioned that such mobilisation could become problematic when it involved the overwhelming presence of serving governors, senior public officials and powerful political actors on election day.
He said such conduct could create an atmosphere of “apprehension, intimidation, bullying and undue pressure” among political opponents and citizens.
Jonathan 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.
He also warned of the danger of creating a cycle in which governors from opposing parties would begin deploying political and governmental influence to 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.
According to him, such a development would deepen political tensions and could transform elections into battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the mandate of the people.
Jonathan therefore urged Nigerians not to treat the issue as a partisan dispute arising from the Osun election, but as a broader national concern requiring collective action.
He called on the National Peace Committee to convene a stakeholders’ engagement to examine emerging practices around elections and establish standards that would protect democracy and preserve peace.
He proposed that the meeting should involve the leadership of registered political parties, INEC, 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 well positioned to lead the initiative because of the confidence and moral authority it had built 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.
The former president urged political leaders and former public office holders to recognise that the power and influence attached to public office came with greater responsibility.
He said such influence should be deployed to strengthen democratic institutions rather than create fear or apprehension among political opponents and citizens.
Jonathan’s intervention comes amid heightened political activity surrounding Nigeria’s off-cycle governorship elections, with concerns over the increasing involvement of national political figures and state governors in electoral contests outside their own states.
