Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday expressed concerns over the accuracy of vote counts in Nigeria’s elections, attributing discrepancies to the presence of “ghost voters.”
He called for greater integrity within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging officials to resign rather than yield to pressure to manipulate election outcomes.
Jonathan made these remarks during the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa, held in Abuja. He stressed that until INEC is led by individuals of integrity who would rather step down than compromise the election process, Nigeria’s electoral system will continue to struggle with a credibility crisis.
“Nigeria’s electoral system cannot provide accurate vote counts because of the prevalence of ghost voters. We need credible individuals in INEC. As former INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega pointed out, political leaders will often try to pressure you into wrongdoing. You should be able to resign rather than submit to such pressure,” Jonathan stated.
He further emphasized that for democracy to thrive, electoral bodies must be led by individuals willing to protect the democratic process, even if it means walking away from their positions.
“INEC officials must understand that if they are pressurized to do wrong, they must prioritize democracy over personal interests and step down,” Jonathan added. He cautioned that without ethical leadership, Nigeria’s elections would continue to be flawed.
Jonathan also raised concerns about the regionalization of Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that regional interests, including religious influences, often distort the true purpose of elections. He argued that electoral systems should be designed to ensure that every vote counts, regardless of regional or religious affiliation.
He further underscored the need for improvements in voter registration systems and electoral processes to ensure credible elections and effective democratic governance. “If our electoral systems are not well-tuned, then what is the point of democracy?” Jonathan questioned.
The former president also referenced the challenges faced by Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, including logistical issues, delayed voting, and technical glitches despite the introduction of new technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and Results Viewing Portal by INEC.
Jonathan compared Nigeria’s experience with the successful elections in Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal, where despite the limited use of technology, the processes were peaceful, transparent, and credible. He noted that high voter turnout in these countries demonstrated the public’s commitment to democracy, in contrast to the tensions and legal disputes often arising from more technology-driven elections in Nigeria.
He concluded by calling for continuous progress in democracy across West Africa, stressing the importance of youth participation, independent electoral institutions, and the use of technology in future elections. He also highlighted the need to address the root causes of instability, such as poverty and inequality, to foster long-term democratic consolidation in the region.
In his keynote address, former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega identified several ongoing challenges in West African democracies, including political interference in electoral commissions, the targeting of electoral officials to ensure desired outcomes, and weak electoral regulations that facilitate fraud and manipulation.
