Goodluck Jonathan Demands Bold Electoral Reforms to Protect Citizens’ Votes and Strengthen Nigerian Democracy
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has urged Nigeria to embark on sweeping electoral reforms that place citizens, not politicians, at the heart of democracy.
Speaking at the National Action Plan for Electoral Reform Dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday, Jonathan said Nigerians deserve an electoral system that guarantees fairness, accountability, and legitimacy.
Represented by Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, the former president acknowledged that while democracy has survived since 1999, citizens still face recurring doubts about whether their votes truly count.
“If we are truly committed to democracy, we must be bold enough to reform the process to better reflect the will of the people and the principles of justice, accountability, and inclusion,” he said.
Jonathan called for the creation of an independent Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to strengthen internal party democracy, discourage opportunistic defections, and enforce party discipline. Such reforms, he argued, would restore dignity to political parties and protect the voters’ mandate.
He also proposed that the appointment of the INEC Chairman should no longer rest solely with the presidency. Instead, he suggested an independent nomination panel made up of representatives from the judiciary, academia, civil society, labour unions, and professional bodies. This, he said, would inspire trust and reduce suspicions of bias.
Another reform he pushed was the resolution of election disputes before swearing-in, saying that governance becomes compromised when leaders face prolonged court battles after assuming office. He recommended streamlining the judicial process to reduce delays and costs.
“Justice delayed in elections is justice denied, not just for the candidates, but for the electorate,” Jonathan stressed.
He concluded that electoral reforms should not be seen as serving the interests of politicians but as a national project to deepen democracy, protect the people’s votes, and strengthen institutions.
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