By SUNTV Global Channel
August 18, 2026
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned President Bola Tinubu, serving governors and other influential political actors against deploying large numbers of security personnel, aides and political associates to states during elections.
Jonathan described the growing practice as “unwholesome,” warning that it could undermine Nigeria’s fragile democracy and turn off-cycle elections into contests dominated by intimidation, political influence and raw power.
The former president made the remarks in a statement on the recently concluded governorship election in Osun State.
Jonathan commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for the peaceful conduct of the election. He said the process showed that Nigeria still had the capacity to organise elections capable of strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions.
However, he expressed concern over the increasing presence of serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential figures who arrive in states where elections are taking place, often accompanied by large entourages and heavy security details.
“The growing practice whereby serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential government functionaries, accompanied by large numbers of aides and heavy security details from outside a state, converge on states where elections are being conducted raises an issue that demands national attention,” Jonathan said.
According to him, political mobilisation could become a source of intimidation when powerful political figures and government officials converge on an election venue in overwhelming numbers.
Jonathan recalled similar incidents during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections when he was president, saying he ordered senior political leaders and government officials who moved into the states to leave.
He warned that Nigeria should not allow such practices to become accepted as part of the country’s electoral culture.
“This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability,” he warned.
Jonathan acknowledged that political parties have the right to campaign, mobilise supporters and deploy legitimate party structures. However, he said there should be limits when such mobilisation involves the overwhelming presence of serving governors, senior public officials and powerful political actors on election day.
He questioned whether such conduct was consistent with the principles of free, fair and peaceful elections, warning that elections should not become battles in which political actors seek victory “at all costs.”
The former president also raised concerns about the precedent the practice could create, asking what could happen if governors from rival political parties began mobilising their political structures and security details to every state holding a competitive election.
“What happens when each party seeks to match political power with political power, governmental influence with governmental influence, and mobilisation with counter-mobilisation?” he asked.
Jonathan said such a situation could heighten political tensions and gradually transform elections from peaceful contests for voters’ mandates into battles for political survival.
He urged political leaders to view the issue as a national concern rather than a partisan disagreement over the Osun election.
“I therefore believe that this matter should not be treated as a partisan dispute concerning the Osun election. It is a broader national issue concerning the future of our electoral democracy,” he said.
Jonathan further called on the National Peace Committee to convene an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to examine emerging practices surrounding off-cycle elections and establish acceptable standards for political conduct.
He proposed that the engagement should include registered political parties, INEC, security agencies, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, civil society organisations and the media.
According to the former president, an early national conversation would help establish clear boundaries for political conduct before practices considered unusual today become normalised in Nigeria’s electoral system.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to bring you updates and developments on Nigeria’s electoral process and democratic institutions.
