Jonathan kicks against govs’ mass presence in off-cycle election states

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over the growing trend of serving governors, senior political office holders, and party leaders converging on states where off-cycle elections are being conducted. In a statement posted on his X handle, Jonathan warned that this practice could threaten Nigeria's democratic stability and create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation, and undue pressure during elections.

He recalled similar situations during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections, where he ordered senior political leaders to leave the states immediately. While acknowledging that political parties have the right to campaign and mobilize supporters, Jonathan emphasized that the overwhelming presence of senior public officials and powerful political actors on election day could undermine peaceful competition and democratic stability.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.