Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over Nigeria’s electoral credibility, blaming ‘ghost voters’ for inaccurate vote counts and urging Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to resign rather than manipulate elections.
Speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa held in Abuja, Jonathan stressed the need for integrity among electoral officers.
“In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters,” he said.
He called for credible individuals within INEC who would rather resign than yield to political pressure to rig elections.
“If you are accepting to be Chairman of INEC or a commissioner, you should be ready to say, ‘If I’m pressurised to do what is wrong, I will walk away,’” Jonathan stated.
He warned that without strong leadership, Nigeria’s electoral system would remain flawed, emphasizing the need for a robust system that ensures only real voters participate in elections.
Jonathan also criticized the regionalization of elections, stating it hinders Nigeria’s ability to elect capable leaders.
“When the electoral process is so regionalized, we are going to have issues,” he said, noting how even religious groups reflect regional biases.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 2023 elections, he pointed out logistical issues, violence, and technical failures that undermined transparency despite the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
Comparing Nigeria’s experience to other West African nations, he noted that Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal had relatively peaceful elections despite using limited technology, while Nigeria and Sierra Leone faced more agitations and legal battles.
“This underscores the place of the human element in democracy. Technology alone cannot deliver credible elections without the will of authorities and citizens to do the right thing,” he explained.
Jonathan also highlighted the need for sustained democratic progress within ECOWAS, commending peaceful transitions in Ghana and Liberia while acknowledging the setbacks from military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
He concluded by advocating for electoral reforms, stronger institutions, and increased youth participation to strengthen democracy in West Africa.
