Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to enact legislation prohibiting off-season elections in the country. The call comes as Jonathan casts his vote in the November 11, 2023, governorship poll in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Governorship elections were also held simultaneously in Imo and Kogi on the same day. In March, governorship elections took place in 28 states, excluding Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun, and Ondo, which conduct off-season elections due to ongoing litigation.
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Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s President from February 2010 to May 2015, argued that off-cycle polls should be abolished and synchronised with general elections. Expressing concern, he warned that if the trend continues, even the presidential election might be conducted off-season.
The former Bayelsa State governor highlighted the importance of aligning with global best practices, citing the American system, where the timing of elections is well-defined.
He emphasised the need for the National Assembly to address this anomaly to ensure a more predictable electoral process in Nigeria.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
