RismadarVoice Reporters
August 18, 2026
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned against the growing practice of serving governors, senior political office holders and party leaders converging on states where off-cycle elections are being conducted, saying the trend could threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Jonathan raised the concern in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday while commenting on the recently concluded Osun governorship election.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the election, but expressed concern over what he described as an emerging trend in political conduct during off-cycle polls.
Jonathan said the conduct witnessed around recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states was unusual and should not become normal in a democratic society.
“The growing practice whereby serving governors, senior political office holders, 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.
“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,” he said.
The former president recalled similar situations during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president.
“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 the trend could create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure during elections.
“This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability,” he said.
He acknowledged that political parties had the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures, but said the overwhelming presence of senior public officials and powerful political actors on election day could undermine peaceful competition.
“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,” he said.
Jonathan questioned whether the increasing deployment of political power and large-scale mobilisation by senior office holders during off-cycle elections was consistent with free and fair democratic competition.
“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.
He added, “This hardly happens in other democratic countries.”
Jonathan also warned against turning political contests into battles in which victory was pursued 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.
He said the practice could become more problematic if governors from opposing parties began deploying political and governmental influence to states holding competitive elections.
“What happens when governors from opposing political parties begin to descend on every state holding a competitive election? What happens when each party seeks to match political power with political power, governmental influence with governmental influence, and mobilisation with counter-mobilisation?” he asked.
Jonathan said such a development would deepen political tensions and make elections resemble contests for political survival rather than peaceful efforts to secure the mandate of voters.
He urged political actors to treat the issue as a national concern rather than a partisan dispute over the Osun election.
“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 also reminded former and serving public officials that their conduct carried greater responsibility.
“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.
The warning followed the declaration of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as winner of the August 15 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Adeleke, the Accord candidate, polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
