Why Nigeria Can’t Get Accurate Vote Counts – Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system, attributing the nation’s failure to get accurate vote counts to the presence of ‘ghost voters’ and the lack of integrity among electoral officials.
Speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa held in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan said Nigeria’s elections would continue to face credibility issues unless the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is managed by men and women of integrity who would rather resign than manipulate the process.
“In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate count of votes because I believe that we have too many ghost voters,” Jonathan stated.
He insisted that for the electoral system to be reformed, INEC must be led by individuals who are not easily pressured by political forces.
According to him, any electoral official who succumbs to manipulation should resign honourably instead of compromising the system.
“Political leaders who are domineering will pressurise you to do what is wrong. You should be able to resign and walk away,” he asserted.
“If we don’t have this kind of people, then we are in trouble. And I don’t want any INEC official to say, ‘I was pressurised.’ If you are accepting to be Chairman of INEC or to be a commissioner, then you should be ready to say, ‘If I’m pressurised to do what is wrong, I will resign and leave.’”
Jonathan lamented that Nigeria’s electoral process remains flawed because of the undue influence of regional and religious biases. He argued that as long as regionalism is prioritised over competence, Nigeria will struggle to elect capable leaders.
“Sometimes, if I listen to the predictions by religious men and women, they tend to lean towards regional interests. When the electoral process is so regionalised, we will have problems,” he said.
The former President also emphasised the need for a transparent voter registration system and a robust electoral framework to ensure that only real voters participate in elections.
“When both parties are strong, and the system cannot be manipulated, only real human beings will vote, and their votes will count,” he affirmed.
He further observed that recent elections in Nigeria, despite the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), were still marred by logistical failures, technical glitches, and voter suppression.
Jonathan contrasted Nigeria’s experience with recent elections in Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal, where limited deployment of technology did not hinder the credibility of the polls.
“It is instructive that in countries where more technology was deployed, like Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the electoral process threw up more agitations, legal battles, and political tensions,” he noted.
The former President stressed that technology alone cannot fix Nigeria’s electoral woes, pointing out that the integrity of electoral officials and the willingness of citizens to uphold democracy are far more crucial.
“The deployment of technology, no matter how elaborate or sophisticated, may not deliver the desired outcomes without the proven will of the authorities and the citizens to do the right thing,” Jonathan remarked.
He called for sustained democratic progress within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and urged Nigeria to set an example for the region by ensuring free and fair elections.
Jonathan also reiterated the importance of youth participation, strong electoral institutions, and reforms aimed at strengthening democracy in Nigeria and across West Africa.
“There is no doubt that the future of democracy in Africa lies in addressing the root causes of instability, including poverty, inequality, and climate change.
“Political leaders and citizens alike must commit to promoting good governance and a culture of tolerance, inclusion, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence,” he stated.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
