Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on political leaders and stakeholders to prioritize peace and fairness in the upcoming Edo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday. In a detailed statement released through his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, in Abuja, Jonathan emphasized the importance of deepening Nigeria’s democratic values by ensuring a transparent and peaceful electoral process.
He urged politicians to pursue their ambitions within the boundaries of the law and avoid actions that could disrupt the peace or stability of the state. Jonathan warned that democracy loses its significance when citizens are unable to vote freely, stressing that the integrity of elections is key to sustaining the nation’s democracy.
“It is encouraging that civil rule has endured in the Fourth Republic for 25 years, but we should remind our people that democracy loses its value when citizens cannot exercise their political choices in a free and fair atmosphere,” Jonathan said.
Call for Neutrality of State Institutions
The former president also addressed the critical role of state institutions in the election, particularly urging neutrality from security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He placed a “moral burden” on these institutions, emphasizing their duty to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.
Jonathan called on the police and other security forces to maintain “optimal neutrality” and avoid actions that could skew the election’s fairness or credibility. He expressed concern that any deviation from neutrality could undermine public confidence in the electoral system, leading to political unrest and other far-reaching consequences.
“Security agencies must conduct themselves in optimal neutrality and desist from actions that could alter the setting for a level-playing field and compromise the credibility of the electoral process,” Jonathan stated.
INEC’s Role as an Unbiased Umpire
Jonathan further urged INEC to live up to its role as an independent and unbiased institution. He advised the electoral body to ensure transparency throughout the voting process in order to inspire confidence among all participants in the election.
“There is no doubt that loss of confidence in an election encourages political disputes, social unrest, voter apathy, increased polarization, and other far-reaching consequences that could undermine development and democratic consolidation,” he warned.
The Need for Credible Elections
In his statement, Jonathan underscored that for democracy to thrive, the electoral process must be devoid of manipulation. He argued that credible elections allow citizens to elect leaders who will be trusted to deliver on promises of good governance, peace, and prosperity. According to him, state institutions have a responsibility to create an environment that guarantees a peaceful, transparent, and credible election process.
“For democracy to endure, our leadership recruitment process must be devoid of all forms of manipulation, and state institutions have the obligation to guarantee peaceful, credible, and transparent elections,” Jonathan concluded.
He reiterated that ensuring a level playing field is essential for maintaining public trust in Nigeria’s democracy, especially as the country seeks to continue its progress in democratic governance.