Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over what he described as a growing and “unwholesome” practice in which serving governors, senior political officeholders, party leaders and other influential government functionaries converge on states holding elections with large numbers of aides and security personnel.
Jonathan, in a statement on Tuesday titled, ‘Osun and the Need to Set New Boundaries for Political Conduct in Off-Cycle Elections,’ commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties and Osun voters for the peaceful conduct of the election.
Jonathan said, “The growing practice whereby serving governors, senior political officeholders, 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 unusual and “is not a practice that should become normal in a democratic society.”
The former President recalled that similar situations arose during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was President.
“Upon being briefed, I ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately,” Jonathan said.
While acknowledging the right of political parties to campaign and mobilise supporters, he warned that excessive mobilisation by serving governors and senior public officials could create an atmosphere of intimidation.
“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.
Jonathan questioned whether the practice was consistent with democratic competition, warning that elections should not become contests in which victory was pursued “at all costs.”
He further warned that if politicians from opposing parties began matching one another with governmental influence and security-backed mobilisation, the consequences could be damaging.
“Such a development would not strengthen our democracy. It would deepen political tensions and could make elections increasingly resemble battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the mandate of the people,” he said.
Jonathan’s warning comes in the wake of the just concluded Osun governorship election in which a number of APC governors and their aides backed by massive security forces and long convoys stormed the state on election day.
Of particular note was the convoy of Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, where one of his aides showed off the armed security personnel and mounted vehicles they came with on social media.
(Ripples)