RismadarVoice Reporters, August 18, 2026
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a national stakeholders’ dialogue to establish clear boundaries for the conduct of political actors during off-cycle elections in Nigeria.
Jonathan made the call in a statement on the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election, where 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, the former President expressed concern over what he described as the growing practice of serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential political actors mobilising to states where elections are being conducted, often accompanied by large numbers of aides and security personnel.
According to him, the development, which he said was witnessed around the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States, could create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure if allowed to become the norm.
Jonathan recalled that similar situations occurred during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections, noting that as President, he directed party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states when he was briefed about their presence.
He stressed that while political parties had the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures, the overwhelming presence of serving governors and senior public officials on election day raised questions about the fairness and peacefulness of electoral competition.
The former President warned that if the trend continued, elections could increasingly become contests of political power and governmental influence rather than peaceful competitions for the people’s mandate.
Jonathan therefore urged the National Peace Committee to convene a stakeholders’ engagement to examine emerging practices surrounding elections and develop standards for responsible political conduct.
He proposed that the engagement should involve registered political parties, INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.
The former President said an early national conversation would help establish appropriate boundaries before practices considered unusual today become accepted norms in Nigeria’s electoral system.
He described the issue as a broader national concern rather than a partisan dispute over the Osun election, urging political leaders to use the power and influence of public office to strengthen democratic institutions and preserve electoral peace.
