Speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa in Abuja, Jonathan emphasised the need for integrity within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday raised doubts over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system, attributing inaccurate vote counts to the prevalence of “ghost voters."
Speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa in Abuja, Jonathan emphasised the need for integrity within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He urged INEC officials to prioritise ethical conduct over political pressure, stating that resignation is a more honorable option than compromising the electoral process.
“In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters,” Jonathan declared.
“If you are pressured to do what is wrong, you should be able to resign and walk away. If we don’t have such people managing our electoral bodies, we are in trouble.”
The former President’s remarks come amid ongoing concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s elections, particularly following the logistical challenges, violence, and technical glitches that marred the 2023 general elections.
Despite the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Results Viewing Portal (IReV) by INEC, the polls were criticised for falling short of expectations.
Jonathan also criticised the regionalisation of Nigeria’s electoral process, describing it as a significant barrier to electing capable leaders.
He noted that regional and religious biases have infiltrated the system, even influencing predictions by religious leaders.
“When the electoral process is so regionalised, we are going to have issues,” he said.
“If our systems for electing leaders are not fine-tuned to the level that the voter card will work, then what is the point of democracy?”
The former President called for a robust electoral system that ensures transparency and accountability, stressing that democracy can only thrive when votes are counted accurately and leaders are elected based on merit rather than regional or ethnic considerations.
Jonathan also highlighted the challenges facing other West African nations, citing recent elections in Sierra Leone and Senegal, where allegations of voter intimidation, ethnic tensions, and controversial results undermined the credibility of the polls.
In contrast, he commended Ghana’s 2023 general elections as a model of peaceful polling and smooth power transfer, despite limited technological applications.
“Nigeria must set an example by conducting clean and peaceful elections,” Jonathan asserted. “As a country with significant influence in West Africa, we must lead by example in upholding democratic principles.”
The former President’s call for reform resonates with growing demands for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.