Ex-President Jonathan Warns Tinubu, Governors: ‘Stop Invading States With Security Machinery During Elections’ | Sahara Reporters

Jonathan noted that the growing practice threatens Nigeria’s fragile democracy and could turn off-cycle polls into contests of political intimidation and raw power.

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has warned President Bola Tinubu, serving governors and other powerful political actors against “invading” states with security personnel, aides and political machinery during elections.

Jonathan noted that the growing practice threatens Nigeria’s fragile democracy and could turn off-cycle polls into contests of political intimidation and raw power.

Jonathan, who spoke in a statement on the recent governorship election in Osun State, said the practice of having influential political actors arrive in large numbers with aides and heavy security details from outside the state was “unwholesome” and should not become normal in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The former president commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun for the peaceful conduct of the election, saying the process demonstrated that Nigeria still had the capacity to conduct elections capable of strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions.

However, he said developments surrounding the Osun election, as well as similar occurrences during elections in Ekiti and Ondo states, raised concerns that required urgent 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,” Jonathan said.

According to him, the increasing presence of powerful political actors on election day could transform political mobilisation into a tool for intimidation and bullying.

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

Jonathan said that after being briefed about the movement of senior political leaders into the states, he ordered them 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 acknowledged that political parties had the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy their legitimate structures, stressing that such activities were fundamental to democracy.

He, however, argued that there should be limits to political mobilisation when it involved the overwhelming presence of serving governors, senior public officials and other powerful political figures during elections.

“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 whether the practice was compatible with the principles of free, fair and peaceful elections, adding that such a pattern was uncommon in other democratic countries.

He warned that Nigeria must not allow elections to become contests in which victory was pursued “at all costs.”

The former president also raised concerns about the precedent such conduct could create, asking what would happen if governors from rival political parties began mobilising their political structures and security details to every state conducting 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 such a situation would increase political tensions and could gradually turn elections into battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the mandate of voters.

He urged political actors not to reduce the issue to a partisan disagreement over the Osun election, describing it instead as a national concern requiring collective action.

“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 also reminded former and serving public officials that their conduct carries greater responsibility because of the power and influence attached to their positions.

He said such influence should be deployed to strengthen democratic institutions rather than create fear or apprehension among political opponents and voters.

The former president consequently called on the National Peace Committee to convene an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to examine emerging practices around off-cycle elections and establish acceptable standards for political conduct.

He said the proposed engagement should involve the leadership of registered political parties, INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.

According to him, the meeting would provide a neutral platform for political actors and other stakeholders to examine the implications of the growing practice and agree on measures capable of protecting Nigeria’s democracy.

Jonathan said the National Peace Committee was particularly suited to lead the conversation because of the confidence and moral authority it had developed 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.