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Former President of Goodluck Jonathan has called for a big reform in the Nigerian electoral system, emphasizing that the credibility of democracy depends on how the leadership of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) is elected and how political parties are managed.
Jonathan made a call on Wednesday in the National Action Plan for the election reform dialogue, organized by the Abuja social and political thinking school. He was represented at the event by Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.
While recognizing that the state has made a profit since returning to the Democratic government in 1999, Jonathan warned that serious weaknesses still threaten the system.
“Nigeria has made important progress since we returned to a democratic government, but we must recognize that our election system still faces significant challenges. If we are truly committed to democracy, we must be brave enough to reform the process to further reflect the will of the people and the principles of justice, accountability, and inclusion,” he said.
The proposal center is a review of how the Chairperson Inec was appointed. He urged that responsibilities be transferred to an independent panel consisting of representatives from justice, civil society, academics, trade unions, and professional associations.
“The credibility of the election is very based on the neutrality and competency of the Independent National Election Commission. So many questions continue to be asked to the propriety of the appointment of the Chair of the Inec. I believe that Nigeria can also improve the process by establishing independent screening and nomination mechanisms.
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This reform will reduce the perception of bias, he will promote public trust in Inec, and increase the legitimacy of his decision, “Jonathan said.
Outside of Inec’s reform, Jonathan also condemned the increasing trend of political buyers that he called “cross buildup”-but that he weakened democratic stability.
“The parties are the foundation of any democracy, but in our context they have become vulnerable to opportunism and instability. We have seen an uproar improvement in the practice of selected cross-accumulation that defected from the parties where they were elected … to improve this, we must greatly consider the formation of an independent office from registrants of political parties in charge who served in political parties that were charged to registrants who served in political parties that were charged in a way that served in it.
He suggested that such registrants must have legal authority to declare empty chairs, quoting examples from Kenya and Malawi where similar frameworks have helped protect the integrity of the political system.
Jonathan further emphasized the urgency of resolving the election dispute before the winner was inaugurated to the office, warning that the delay eroded public trust and weakened governance.
“This creates confusion and damages governance when candidates with election cases that have not been resolved take positions only to be removed by the court. This damages office authority and the credibility of the election process … Justice delayed in the election is rejected, not only for candidates, but for voters,” he said.
To overcome this, he recommends reducing the number of courts handling the election petition, especially in the case of the Governor and the President, so that the decision can be made faster.
Closing his speech, Jonathan recalled the stakeholders that the original reform was a national task, not a partisan battle.
“Democracy is not only about giving ballots. This is about building institutions, promoting accountability, and protecting citizens. The reforms that we discuss at this time are not partisan. They are patriotic. They are not intended to benefit one group, but to strengthen Nigeria,” he said.
