Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reflected on the 2015 general elections he lost to his successor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the card reader rejected him, his wife, and his mother, which almost led to chaos in Nigeria.
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Jonathan stated that the success of any election depends on the conduct of the electoral management body and the police.
He made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja at the YIAGA Africa’s Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa. The event, themed ‘Strengthening Democratic Processes in West Africa: Lessons from the 2024 Elections and Prospects for Future Elections,’ was supported by the European Commission, ECOWAS, and GIZ.
“Strengthen Electoral Institutions: Independent and impartial electoral commissions, as well as non-partisan security operatives, are the cornerstone of credible elections. We must invest in building the capacity of these institutions and safeguarding their independence from political interference. I have always held the view that the success or failure of any election lies in the hands of two critical agencies: the electoral management body and the police,” Jonathan said.
He added, “It goes without saying that the stability of a democracy is strongly tied to the way its elections are conducted and policed. If elections are not properly managed by security personnel who must be fair and just, the credibility of the electoral process and, by extension, the legitimacy of governance, could be undermined.”
Jonathan also commended the increasing role of youth in the electoral process, describing their participation as one of the most crucial developments in recent electoral reforms.
However, he recalled how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under its former chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, rejected him, his wife, and his mother during the 2015 general election, which he lost to the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.
Jonathan, narrating his experience in a lighthearted manner, said, “When Jega was there, he introduced the card reader, but during the election, the card reader rejected me, rejected my wife, and rejected my mother.”
He went on to highlight the importance of technological advancements in elections across West Africa, despite the challenges he faced.
Jonathan noted significant progress in electoral processes in countries like Liberia, Senegal, and Ghana, and emphasized how these improvements had fostered greater democratic participation.
“It must be stated that high voter turnout in Liberia, Senegal, and Ghana, as well as the official transition of power in these countries, demonstrated public enthusiasm for democratic participation and consolidation. And I must commend the elections in Senegal. To me, it was one of the best elections I have observed in Africa and a few outside Africa,” he added.
During the conference, the former INEC chairman, Prof. Jega, delivered the keynote address and acknowledged concerns over democratic backsliding in the region. However, he stressed that citizens still strongly desire accountable and representative governance.
“In spite of the worrisome evidence of backsliding of democratic progress in the West African region, there remains a substantial appetite among citizens for representative and accountable democratic government,” Jega said.
He further emphasized the need for citizens, civil society organizations, and democratic political actors to mobilize effectively for credible and sustainable democratic development.
“Electing good representatives in governance and holding them to account would make government more responsible and responsive to the needs and aspirations of citizens for societal progress and socio-economic development,” Jega concluded.
Jega also recognized progress in strengthening independent election management bodies (EMBs) across West Africa but acknowledged that much more work remains to be done.
Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, explained that the conference provided a platform for key stakeholders to reflect on the challenges and progress of electoral reforms in the West African region. He stressed the need for sustained efforts toward credible and transparent elections. Itodo also highlighted that the discussions aimed to offer a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 elections, focusing on key challenges and opportunities for improvement.
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