Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not getting accurate vote counts during elections due to the involvement of those he described as “ghost voters.”
He also stated that it is preferable and more honorable for the chairperson and other members of INEC to resign rather than succumb to pressure to rig elections.
Jonathan made the statement at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa, which was held in Abuja.
According to the former leader, the nation’s electoral system will continue to suffer from a credibility crisis until there are men of integrity in INEC who would sooner quit than give in to pressure to rig elections.
Jonathan said, “In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters.
“We must have credible people. From what (ex-INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega) said, political leaders who are so domineering will pressurize you to do what is wrong; you should be able to resign and leave. You should be able to resign and walk away, please.
“If we don’t have this kind of people, then we are in trouble. And I don’t want any INEC official to say I was pressurized. If you are accepting to be Chairman of INEC or to be a commissioner of INEC, then you should be ready to say, ‘If I’m pressurised to do what is wrong, I will take care of the democratic people and walk away’.
’And if we don’t have such people managing our electoral management bodies, if what we have are people who will continue to go in a circle, we will not get what we want.”
The former Nigerian leader emphasized that without strong and ethical leadership in electoral management, the electoral system would remain flawed.
He called for a robust electoral system that works to ensure credible elections.
“When both parties are strong, and the system cannot be manipulated, only real human beings will cast and their votes will count,” he affirmed.
Jonathan also condemned the regionalization of the electoral process, stating that it is a major hindrance to Nigeria’s desire to elect capable leaders.
He mentioned that regionalization has deeply infiltrated the system, affecting all facets, including religious groups.
“Sometimes, if I listen to the prediction by religious men and women and so on, their predictions tend to go towards the regional interest. So, when the electoral process is so regionalised, we are going to have issues. And that will be controlled by de-emphasizing sort of key areas.
“If our systems of electing our leaders are not fine-tuned to the level that the voter card will work, then what will be so great about democracy?” Jonathan queried.
He emphasized the importance of improving the voter registration system and electoral processes to ensure that democracy functions effectively.
“If our systems for electing leaders are not fine-tuned, then what is the point of democracy?” he questioned.
Jonathan also stated that Nigeria, as a country with significant influence in the West African sub-region, must set an example by conducting clean and peaceful elections.
He recalled the logistical challenges, delayed voting in some regions, violence, and technical flaws that plagued the 2023 general elections, despite INEC’s implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the Results Viewing Portal to improve transparency.
Jonathan also mentioned the difficulties faced by elections in Sierra Leone and Senegal, where charges of irregularities such as voter intimidation, ethnic conflicts, and contentious outcomes damaged the polls.
He added, “Late last year, Ghana conducted general elections, which were indeed successful, despite the application of limited technology. The country, with a reputation for being one of Africa’s most stable democracies, lived up to this billing by conducting peaceful polling and a smooth transfer of power.
“The Electoral Commission of Ghana and the security authorities played a crucial role in ensuring the elections were free, fair, and transparent, thereby demonstrating that Ghana’s democratic institutions and processes have continued to be resilient, even with limited technology.
“Two other countries, Liberia and Senegal, also conducted general elections with limited deployment of technology. In these countries, the processes were generally peaceful, transparent, and credible with a high voter turnout.
‘’In the case of Liberia, incumbent President George Weah conceded defeat to the opposition candidate Joseph Boakai after a closely contested runoff, setting a positive example for democratic transitions in the region.
‘’The pre-election period in Senegal was notably marred by protests, arrests of opposition figures, and concerns about the independence of the judiciary. However, it was pleasing to observe that once the election process kicked in, the polling processes progressed without hitches, resulting in a free and fair outcome.
He noticed that Liberia, Senegal, and Ghana had high voting turnout and a peaceful change of power, demonstrating public excitement for democratic engagement and consolidation.
‘’It is instructive that in countries where more technology was deployed, like Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the electoral process threw up more agitations, legal battles, and political tensions.
‘’This development, therefore, underscores the place of the human element in deepening the roots of democracy. It shows that the deployment of technology, no matter how elaborate or sophisticated, may not deliver the desired outcomes without the proven will of the authorities and the citizens to do the right thing,’’ he noted.
Jonathan praised West Africa’s democratic progress, despite recent setbacks such as coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic. He emphasized the need for continued growth in democracy to inspire populations.
Jonathan noted, “Although some nations have regressed to military rule, West Africa has largely transitioned from the dark days of pervasive military rule to a region where elections are the primary means of transferring power.
‘’Still, I believe we have made incremental progress. It is clear that West Africa has largely transitioned from the dark days of pervasive military rule and authoritarian regimes to a region where elections are now held routinely as the primary means of transferring political power.
‘’The fact that the military regimes are now treated as an aberration within the Economic Community of West African States speaks eloquently to this progression and highlights the resilience and determination of our people to embrace democracy as a way of life.
‘’This is, indeed, a clear departure from the not-so-distant past when many nations in the sub-region experienced long spells of political instability or military dictatorship, with some of the leaders even playing an active role in the formation of ECOWAS in 1975.’’
Jonathan called for robust youth participation in the electoral process, strong and independent electoral institutions, and electoral reforms, as well as efficient use of technology.
