Jonathan questions INEC’s integrity 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan recently raised concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system, stating that the involvement of “ghost voters” has led to inaccurate vote counts.

Speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa, Jonathan said the importance of having credible leaders in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who would rather resign than succumb to political pressures to manipulate elections.

Jonathan said, “In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters.”

He added, “We must have credible people. From what (ex-INEC Chairman, Attahiru) Jega said, political leaders who are so domineering will pressurise you to do what is wrong; you should be able to resign and leave.

You should be able to resign and walk away, please.”

He further said that electoral leaders should be able to resist pressures that undermine democracy, “If you are accepting to be Chairman of INEC or to be a commissioner of INEC, then you should be ready to say, “If I’m pressurised to do what is wrong, I will take care of the democratic people and walk away.’”

Jonathan also criticised the regionalization of the electoral process, noting how it influences voter behavior and contributes to divisiveness.

“Sometimes, if I listen to the prediction by religious men and women and so on, their predictions tend to go towards the regional interest. So, when the electoral process is so regionalised, we are going to have issues.”

He urged for stronger leadership in INEC, stressing that ethical leadership is essential for credible elections.

“If we don’t have this kind of people, then we are in trouble. And I don’t want any INEC official to say I was pressurised.”

Jonathan further pointed out the importance of enhancing the voter registration system and improving the electoral process to ensure effective democracy: “If our systems for electing leaders are not fine-tuned, then what is the point of democracy?”

The former president also reflected on the state of elections in West Africa, contrasting Nigeria’s challenges with the successes of other nations like Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal.

He noted that, despite the deployment of advanced technology in some countries, including Nigeria, the integrity of elections is not guaranteed without a commitment to doing the right thing from both authorities and citizens.

“This development, therefore, underscores the place of the human element in deepening the roots of democracy.

“It shows that the deployment of technology, no matter how elaborate or sophisticated, may not deliver the desired outcomes without the proven will of the authorities and the citizens to do the right thing.”

Jonathan’s call for an inclusive, transparent, and well-managed electoral process reflects a broader concern for democratic development in West Africa, where he highlighted progress in transitioning away from military rule despite recent setbacks.

He underscored the need for youth participation, electoral reforms, and effective governance to secure the future of democracy in Africa.

“There is no doubt that the future of democracy in Africa lies in addressing the root causes of instability, including poverty, inequality, and climate change.”