Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned serving governors, senior political office holders and party leaders against turning off-cycle elections into arenas for excessive political mobilisation.
Jonathan said the increasing presence of governors, political leaders, government officials and their large entourages in states holding elections could create fear and pressure among voters and political opponents.
The former president raised the concern on Tuesday while reacting to the outcome of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the poll.
However, Jonathan said the conduct of political actors around recent off-cycle elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states had raised questions that should receive national attention.
According to him, political mobilisation is a normal part of democracy, but it becomes problematic when powerful political figures from outside the state arrive with large numbers of aides and security personnel.
“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,” he said.
Jonathan recalled that similar situations occurred during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president.
He said he had directed political leaders and senior government officials to leave the states after being briefed about their presence and activities.
“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.
The former president warned that the situation could become dangerous if it was allowed to continue unchecked.
“This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability,” he said.
Jonathan noted that political parties have the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy their structures during elections.
He, however, said the involvement of serving governors and other powerful public officials on election day could create an atmosphere that goes beyond ordinary political campaigning.
“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.
The former president also questioned whether the growing deployment of political power during off-cycle elections was compatible with the principles of free and fair elections.
“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.
Jonathan added, “This hardly happens in other democratic countries.”
Governors and national political leaders often travel to states where their parties are contesting governorship elections. They may participate in rallies, campaign meetings and strategic engagements with party members.
He warned that elections should not become contests in which political actors believe victory must be secured regardless of the consequences.
“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.
The former president further asked what could happen if governors from different political parties began responding to one another with similar displays of political and governmental influence.
“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 such a pattern could gradually change the character of elections.
Rather than allowing voters to freely choose their preferred candidates, he said elections could begin to resemble battles between political power blocs.
He urged political leaders to view the issue beyond the immediate outcome of 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.
He also reminded former and serving public officials that their positions come with greater responsibility.
“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.
Jonathan’s comments followed the declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the Osun governorship election.
The election was held on Saturday, August 15, with Adeleke contesting under the Accord platform against APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and candidates from other political parties.
INEC declared Adeleke the winner after he secured 511,067 votes.
Oyebamiji, his closest challenger, polled 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress came third with 17,180 votes.
