Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for urgent national action to check what he described as the growing deployment of political power, government officials and heavy security details during off-cycle elections, warning that the trend could undermine Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
Jonathan made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following the recent Osun State governorship election, in which he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of the state for the peaceful conduct of the poll.
While acknowledging the positive aspects of the Osun election, the former president expressed concern over what he described as an emerging pattern in which serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential government functionaries converge on states holding elections, often accompanied by large numbers of aides and security personnel.
“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,” Jonathan said.
He recalled similar developments during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections, saying he had ordered senior political leaders and government officials to leave the states after receiving reports of their presence.
“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.
Jonathan warned that allowing the practice to continue could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability,” he said.
According to the former president, political parties have a legitimate right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy their structures. However, he cautioned that excessive mobilisation by powerful political actors on election day could create an atmosphere of fear and undue pressure.
“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,” Jonathan said.
He questioned whether such practices were compatible with free, fair and peaceful democratic competition, noting that they were uncommon in other established democracies.
“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.
“This hardly happens in other democratic countries.”
Jonathan also warned against turning elections into high-stakes political battles where victory becomes an end that must be achieved at all costs.
“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.
Jonathan Warns of Dangerous Precedent
The former president raised concerns about the precedent that could be established if governors and other powerful political actors begin routinely descending on states during competitive elections.
He asked what would happen if opposing political parties began matching government influence with government influence and mobilisation with counter-mobilisation.
“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,” Jonathan warned.
He therefore urged stakeholders to look beyond partisan interpretations of the Osun election and treat the issue as a broader national concern.
“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 further reminded former and serving public officials that their positions impose a greater responsibility on them to protect democratic institutions.
“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 Tasks National Peace Committee
Against this backdrop, Jonathan called on the National Peace Committee to convene an urgent stakeholders’ engagement to examine emerging practices around elections and develop acceptable standards for political conduct.
“For this reason, I call on the National Peace Committee to convene, as soon as practicable, a stakeholders’ engagement. 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,” he said.
He proposed that the meeting should include leaders of registered political parties, INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.
Jonathan said the National Peace Committee was particularly suited to lead the initiative because of the confidence and moral authority it had built 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.
