Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that the growing practice of serving governors, senior political office holders and party leaders descending on states during off-cycle elections with large entourages and heavy security details could threaten Nigeria’s democracy if left unchecked.

Jonathan, in a statement on the recent Osun governorship election, said the increasing deployment of political power and government influence during elections was capable of creating an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation and undue pressure, warning that the practice should not be allowed to become the norm in the country’s electoral system.

He therefore called on the National Peace Committee to convene a national stakeholders’ engagement to establish clear boundaries and acceptable standards for the conduct of political actors during off-cycle elections.

The former president, while commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun State for what he described as the peaceful conduct of the election, said developments surrounding the poll had raised broader concerns about the future of Nigeria’s electoral democracy.

According to him, the pattern witnessed around the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states was unusual and should not become normal in a democratic society.

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