By Sam Jones, Yenagoa
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for an end to off-cycle elections in Nigeria as Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states vote today.
Jonathan also warned that the presidential election may soon become off-cycle if this trend is allowed to continue.
Jonathan spoke in Ogbia, Bayelsa State, after voting at Ogbia Ward 13, Unit 39.
He charged the National Assembly to address the problem to unify all elections.
The former President stated that what Nigeria is doing is only to satisfy the law but that it does not reflect global best electoral practices.
He said, yes, some states in the US have their own periods to elect a governor but that such dates are sacrosanct.
He said it is good to know the date a new governor or president would be elected. He added that journalists were keeping quiet but that soon, they would raise a voice the moment presidential election begins to shift to unpredictable dates.
Jonathan reminded Nigerians that this nearly took place in 2007 when he contested as running mate to Umaru Musa Ya’adua when he said three out of seven justices voted to nullify the election. “If one more justice had crossed to that side, the election would have been nullified and the Presidential election series would today be an off-cycle election”.
On Bayelsa voting, he said he was in touch with all parts of the state without any major incident so far.
He however said it was too early to say.
He was accompanied by his wife, Patience, and a retinue of aides.
