Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over the growing presence of serving governors, senior political office holders and influential party leaders at off-cycle elections, warning that the practice could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

Jonathan, in a statement on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, said the deployment of political influence, large entourages and heavy security details by powerful political actors could create an atmosphere of intimidation, apprehension and undue pressure on voters.

He urged the National Peace Committee to convene a national stakeholders’ meeting to develop clear guidelines for the conduct of political actors during off-cycle elections.

While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the election, Jonathan said developments surrounding the poll had raised wider concerns about the future of electoral democracy in Nigeria.

According to him, the pattern witnessed during recent governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states was unusual and should not be allowed to become the new normal.

Jonathan acknowledged the right of political parties to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures. However, he warned that the overwhelming presence of serving governors, senior government officials and powerful political actors from outside an electoral state on election day could amount to political intimidation.

“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.

The former president recalled that similar situations occurred during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections while he was in office.

Jonathan said he had directed party leaders and senior government officials to leave the affected states after receiving reports of their mobilisation ahead of the elections.

He warned that allowing the current trend to continue could trigger a dangerous cycle in which political leaders from rival parties deploy increasing numbers of supporters, officials and security personnel to states conducting competitive elections.

He said such a development could gradually transform elections from peaceful contests for the people’s mandate into battles for political survival.

Jonathan stressed that the issue should not be viewed solely through the lens of the Osun election or partisan politics, but as a national concern requiring urgent attention.

“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 former president therefore called on the National Peace Committee to bring together political parties, INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media for a national dialogue on political conduct during elections.

He said the engagement should establish acceptable boundaries for political participation and prevent practices that are considered unusual today from becoming entrenched in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Wabara Hails Adeleke’s Victory

Meanwhile, former Senate President and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun governorship election as a triumph of the people’s will over what he termed federal might and political intimidation.

Adeleke contested the election on the Accord platform.

Wabara said the outcome demonstrated that the deployment of political and governmental resources could not permanently suppress the will of determined voters.

He commended the people of Osun State for what he described as their courage in standing by their preferred candidate despite the political pressure surrounding the election.

“Osun people have written their names in gold in the history of Nigerian democracy. They demonstrated uncommon courage and resilience by refusing to be intimidated or stampeded into surrendering their democratic rights,” Wabara said.

He urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the election ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for citizens to vote according to their conscience and remain vigilant throughout the electoral process.

Wabara said voting was only one part of democratic participation, adding that citizens must also protect the integrity of their votes through peaceful and lawful vigilance during collation and declaration of results.

He further argued that the Osun election showed that the ruling All Progressives Congress was not invincible despite its access to significant political and governmental resources.

“This is not a call for confrontation. It is a call for democratic vigilance, civic courage and the peaceful defence of the people’s mandate,” he said.

Wabara also called on opposition parties to strengthen their cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that greater unity would improve their ability to challenge the ruling party and offer Nigerians a stronger political alternative.