Jonathan slams party defections, demands electoral reforms

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system to strengthen democracy, enhance accountability, and ensure the legitimacy of elections.

Speaking on Wednesday at the National Action Plan for Electoral Reform Dialogue, organized by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Jonathan emphasised the need for structural changes to improve the nation’s democratic processes.

Jonathan, represented by the Executive Director Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Ann Iyonu, acknowledged that while Nigeria has made progress since returning to democratic rule in 1999, the electoral process remains riddled with flaws.

“Nigeria has made notable progress since our return to democratic rule, but we must acknowledge that our electoral system still faces significant challenges. If we are truly committed to democracy, we must be bold enough to reform the process to better reflect the will of the people and the principles of justice, accountability, and inclusion,” he said.

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Jonathan proposed several key reforms, beginning with the creation of an independent Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, which would be responsible for ensuring internal party democracy and discipline.

“Parties are the foundation of any democracy, but in our context, they have become vulnerable to opportunism and instability.

“We have seen a disturbing rise in the practice of cross-cupping — elected officials defecting from the parties under which they were elected, often without ideological justification or accountability to the electorate.

“To remedy this, we should strongly consider the establishment of an independent Office of the Registrar of Political Parties charged with regulating party operations, promoting internal democracy, and enforcing party discipline.”

Jonathan added that the registrar should have the “authority to declare the seat of any defector vacant”, noting that this system has worked in countries like Kenya and Malawi.

“This reform would affirm the principle that the electoral mandate belongs to the people and not to individual ambition,” he said.

The former president also called for changes to the process of appointing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, suggesting that an independent panel should screen and nominate candidates.

“Credibility of elections rests heavily on the neutrality and competence of the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“So many questions have continued to be raised on the propriety of the process of appointing the INEC chairman.

“I believe that Nigeria can also improve the process by establishing an independent screening and nomination mechanism comprising representatives from the judiciary, civil society, academia, trade unions, and professional bodies.

“This reform will reduce perceptions of bias, it will promote public trust in INEC, and enhance the legitimacy of its decisions,” Jonathan added.

He further stressed the importance of resolving all post-election disputes before the swearing-in of elected officials, arguing that unresolved court cases after elections disrupt governance and erode public confidence.

“It creates confusion and undermines governance when candidates with unresolved election cases assume office only to be later removed by the courts. This undermines the authority of the office and the credibility of the electoral process,” he said.

He suggested streamlining the judicial process by “reducing the number of courts handling electoral cases,” particularly for gubernatorial and presidential elections, to cut costs and improve efficiency.

“Justice delayed in elections is justice denied, not just for the candidates, but for the electorate,” Jonathan stated.

In his closing remarks, Jonathan underscored that electoral reforms are essential to building a stronger democracy and are not aimed at benefiting any particular group.

“Democracy is not just about casting ballots. It is about building institutions, promoting accountability, and protecting the rights of the citizens.

“The reforms we are discussing today are not partisan. They are patriotic. They are not meant to benefit any one group, but to strengthen Nigeria,” he concluded.