Jonathan Criticizes INEC for Corruption, Calls for Electoral Reforms
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has once again voiced his concerns over Nigeria’s electoral process, blaming the corruption within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the inaccuracy of vote counts. Jonathan, speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa in Abuja, emphasized that the nation’s elections have been undermined by ‘ghost voters’ and deep-rooted corruption.
He criticized INEC for its inability to deliver accurate vote counts, citing the involvement of dubious individuals who he described as ‘ghost voters.’ According to Jonathan, this is one of the main reasons why the credibility of the election results remains in question. He suggested that INEC officials, especially its chairman, should consider resigning rather than succumbing to political pressure to manipulate election results.
Jonathan stated, “In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe we have too many ghost voters. The system is riddled with fraud, and until there is a leadership of integrity in INEC, we will continue to experience this credibility crisis.” He emphasized that electoral officials should be ready to walk away from their positions rather than compromise the democratic process.
The former President condemned the current leadership of INEC for not demonstrating the courage to stand up against external pressure. He stressed that only leaders who put national interest above political manipulation can restore the integrity of the electoral system. “If you are accepting the position of INEC Chairman, you must be prepared to resign if you are pressured to engage in electoral fraud. If we don’t have such people in charge, the system will remain corrupt and ineffective,” Jonathan said.
He further criticized the politicization of INEC, stating that the regional and ethnic biases present in the system have worsened the credibility of elections. Jonathan noted that political leaders, religious figures, and other influential groups often manipulate the electorate based on regional and ethnic sentiments. “When elections are regionalized, we’re allowing these divisive factors to dictate who leads the country, instead of the best candidates emerging through fair and free elections,” he argued.
Jonathan also expressed deep concerns about the use of technology, pointing out that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Results Viewing Portal were introduced to enhance transparency, these measures were still not sufficient to prevent electoral manipulation. He recalled the delays, logistical issues, and violence that marred the 2023 general elections, highlighting the failure of INEC to ensure a smooth process despite the technological advancements.
The former President also took aim at the broader issues plaguing elections in other West African countries, noting the increased political tensions, allegations of voter intimidation, and controversial results in countries like Sierra Leone and Senegal. Jonathan pointed out that while some countries in the region, like Ghana and Liberia, conducted relatively peaceful elections with limited technology, the more technologically advanced electoral systems, such as Nigeria’s, were still plagued by widespread corruption and electoral fraud.
He argued that while technology can improve elections, it cannot replace the human element of integrity. “Technology alone cannot guarantee free and fair elections; it is the will of the people in positions of power to do the right thing that ensures democracy works,” Jonathan stated.
Jonathan also lamented that Nigeria, despite being one of the most influential countries in West Africa, had failed to set a proper example by conducting transparent and fair elections. He called for electoral reforms that would remove the corruption from the system and restore trust in the process.
Despite his frustrations, Jonathan expressed hope for the future, noting the progress made by West African countries in shifting away from military rule towards democratic governance. However, he warned that if the corruption within INEC continued unchecked, Nigeria’s democracy would face serious setbacks, and the country would fail to realize its potential as a leading democratic power in Africa.
In conclusion, Jonathan called for stronger electoral management bodies, deeper reforms to improve the voter registration system, and a commitment to ensuring that the electoral process is free from manipulation. “We cannot claim to be a functioning democracy if our elections are marred by corruption, fraud, and irregularities. If our system is not fine-tuned to allow every voter’s voice to count, then what is the point of democracy?” he questioned.
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Jonathan Criticizes INEC for Corruption, Calls for Electoral Reforms