Former President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the trend that has seen governors, political office holders and their aides converge on states where off-cycle elections are being held in Nigeria, describing it as unwholesome.
Reacting to Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, Jonathan, in a post on his social media accounts on Tuesday, said such practice raises an issue that demands national attention.
“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.
“The conduct witnessed around the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States was, in my view, unusual. It is not a practice that should become normal in a democratic society,” the former president said.
Recalling similar incidents in off-cycle elections when he was president, Jonathan said he ordered senior political leaders to leave the states on those occasions.
I recall that, asPresident, 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.
The former president said the trend must be checked to ensure that it does not stymie Nigeria’s democracy.
“If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability.
“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.
“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,” the former president stated.
Pointing out that such mobilization of politician to areas where elections are being conducted does not happen other democracies, he insisted that political competition must not to become a contest in which victory is perceived as something that must be achieved at all costs.
He warned against the dangers to Nigeria’s democracy if the trend is established as a precedent.
“If the current trend becomes established, 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?”
Stressing that such a development would not strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, Jonathan said it rather would deepen political tensions and could make elections increasingly resemble battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the mandate of the people.
“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.
“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.”
Peace Committee’s Intervention
The former president called for the intervention of the National Peace Committee to convene a stakeholders’ engagement towards arresting the trend.
“The purpose of such a meeting should be to provide a neutral and constructive platform for political leaders and other stakeholders to reflect on emerging practices around elections and agree on standards that will protect our democracy and preserve peace.
“The engagement should bring together key stakeholders, including the leadership of registered political parties; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); relevant security agencies; the leadership of the National Assembly; the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); the Nigeria Governors’ Forum; civil society organisations; and the media, to interrogate this troubling trend.
“I believe that the National Peace Committee is particularly well placed to lead this conversation because of the confidence and moral authority it has built over the years in bringing political leaders together at moments 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.
Commends Osun Election
The former president said the governorship election in Osun State demonstrated that, despite the challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy, the country possess the capacity to conduct elections in a manner that strengthens public confidence in its democratic institutions.
“I therefore commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, political parties and, most importantly, the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the recent governorship election,” the former president said.
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