By Kingston Magare 18.8.2026
Former President Goodluck Johnathan has slammed governors who abandoned their duty posts and go on campaigning in off cycle elections.
Mr. Jonathan was reflecting on the August 15 Osun State governorship election where a good number of All Progressives Congress governors stormed Osogbo to stomp for APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who was defeated by incumbent governor Ademola Adeleke. He argued that it was an undue interference that could derail democracy in Nigeria.
“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.
“The conduct witnessed around the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States was, in my view, unusual. It is not a practice that should become normal in a democratic society,” the former President stated in a statement posted on his X social media platform.
He said during his days in office similar scenarios played out in the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections.
“I recall that, as President, similar situations arose during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections. On those occasions, senior political leaders mobilised and descended upon the states. Upon being briefed, I ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately.
“This trend is unwholesome. If left unchecked, it could threaten our fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability
“We must ask ourselves whether the increasing deployment of political power and large-scale mobilisation by senior office holders on election day in states holding elections is consistent with the spirit of free, fair and peaceful democratic competition.
“This hardly happens in other democratic countries,” he added.
Goodluck Jonathan...