Jonathan Warns Against Governors, Officials Converging on Off-Cycle Election States.

Jonathan Warns Against Governors, Officials Converging on Off-Cycle Election States.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against the growing practice of serving governors, senior political office holders and party leaders converging on states holding off-cycle elections, warning that the trend could threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Jonathan commented on the recently concluded Osun governorship election. He praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the poll, but raised concern over what he described as an emerging pattern in political behaviour during off-cycle elections.

Jonathan said the conduct seen around recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states was unusual and should not become the norm 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 said.

“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.”

He recalled similar situations during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president. On those occasions, he said, senior political leaders mobilised and descended on the states. After being briefed, he ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave immediately.

Jonathan warned that the current trend could create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure. “This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability,” he said.

While acknowledging that political parties have the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and use legitimate party structures, he stressed that the overwhelming presence of senior public officials and powerful political actors on election day risks undermining peaceful competition.

“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.

He questioned whether the large-scale deployment of political power by senior office holders during off-cycle elections aligns with free, fair and peaceful democratic competition, noting that “this hardly happens in other democratic countries.”

Jonathan also cautioned against turning political contests into battles in which victory is pursued at all costs. He asked what would happen if governors from opposing parties began descending on every competitive state election, matching political power with political power and mobilisation with counter-mobilisation. Such a development, he said, would deepen tensions and make elections resemble contests for political survival rather than peaceful efforts to secure the voters’ mandate.

He urged that the issue be treated as a national concern rather than a partisan dispute over the Osun election. “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 added.

The statement followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as winner of the August 15 governorship election. Adeleke, the Accord candidate, polled 511,067 votes to defeat All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.