Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the success of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections will depend on the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at Yiaga Africa’s Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa, Jonathan emphasized the need for strong electoral institutions and impartial security agencies.
“I always hold the view that the success or failure of any election lies in the hands of two critical agencies: the electoral management body and the police,” he said. “If elections are not properly managed by security personnel who must be fair and just, the credibility of the process and the legitimacy of governance could be undermined.”
The conference, themed Strengthening Democratic Processes in West Africa: Lessons from the 2024 Elections and Prospects for Future Elections, was supported by the European Commission, ECOWAS, and GIZ.
Jonathan noted the increasing participation of youth in elections, calling it one of the most promising aspects of recent electoral reforms.
Reflecting on the 2015 election, which he lost to Muhammadu Buhari, Jonathan recounted the challenges posed by INEC’s card reader, introduced under then-chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega.
“When Jega was there, he introduced the card reader, but during the election, it rejected me and almost set the country ablaze. It rejected my wife and my mother,” he said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Despite these challenges, he pointed to technological advancements in elections, citing improvements in countries like Liberia, Senegal, and Ghana.
“The high voter turnout and smooth transition of power in these countries demonstrate public enthusiasm for democratic participation and consolidation,” he noted. “I must commend Senegal’s election; it was one of the best I have observed in Africa and beyond.”
Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, said the conference provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on electoral challenges and progress across the region.
