Former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed concerns about the presence of ‘ghost voters’ affecting the accuracy of vote counts in Nigerian elections. He emphasized the importance of having credible and principled individuals in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who are willing to resign rather than succumb to pressure to manipulate election outcomes. Jonathan highlighted the need for strong and ethical leadership in electoral management to ensure the credibility of the electoral system.
He called for a robust electoral system that cannot be easily manipulated, emphasizing the significance of having integrity in INEC officials. Additionally, Jonathan criticized the regionalization of the electoral process in Nigeria, stating that it hinders the country’s ability to elect competent leaders. He stressed the importance of voter registration system improvements and electoral process enhancements to uphold democracy effectively.
Jonathan underscored the need for Nigeria to conduct clean and peaceful elections as a country with significant influence in the West African sub-region. He referenced examples from Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal, where elections were conducted successfully with limited technology. Jonathan advocated for sustained progress in democracy within the Economic Community of West African States to instill hope among citizens.
He also emphasized the importance of youth involvement in the electoral process, independent electoral institutions, electoral reforms, and the efficient use of technology to enhance democracy in Africa. Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, highlighted challenges affecting democratic development in West Africa, including political interference, intimidation of electoral officials, and obstruction of legal reforms. Jega emphasized the need to address these challenges to strengthen democracy in the region.