Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, have raised concerns about political interference in appointing electoral commissioners.
Speaking at the “Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa,” organized by Yiaga Africa in Abuja, Jonathan and Jega highlighted the negative impact of political pressure on electoral integrity.
Jonathan emphasized the issue of “ghost voters” in Nigeria, arguing that credible individuals must manage electoral processes.
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He urged electoral officials to resist undue political pressure, saying, “If you accept to be INEC Chairman or Commissioner, you should be ready to walk away if pressured to act wrongly.”
He further stressed the need for ethical leadership in electoral management to prevent manipulations and ensure that only legitimate votes count. Jonathan also condemned the increasing regionalization of elections, which he said influences even religious leaders’ predictions.
Reflecting on elections across West Africa, Jonathan praised Ghana’s democratic resilience despite limited technology and commended Liberia’s peaceful transition after former President George Weah conceded defeat.
However, he noted pre-election unrest in Senegal, though the voting process itself was credible.
Jega, on his part, outlined key threats to democracy in the region, including political interference in appointing or removing electoral officials, intimidation of election workers, obstruction of legal reforms, and deliberate introduction of weak regulations that enable fraud.
He also pointed out issues like strategic changes in electoral laws favoring incumbents and withholding funding from electoral bodies to undermine their operations.
Jega called on citizens, civil society groups, and reform advocates to remain vigilant and push for credible elections across West Africa.
