Off-Cycle Elections Must Stop – Ex-President Jonathan Declares After Voting

After casting his vote today in Bayelsa State, former President, Goodluck Jonathan, declared that off-cycle elections must stop in Nigeria.

The former leader, who arrived at his Polling Unit 39, Ward 13, Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, on Saturday morning alongside his wife, Patience, urged the National Assembly to work towards stopping the off-season poll.

Naija News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts the ongoing off-cycle election in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.

“I’m worried about this issue of off-season election because it does not conform with global best practices,” Jonathan said.

The former President expressed concerns that with the way things are going in Nigeria, the presidential election might become off-season soon.

The ex-governor of Bayelsa State said an off-season presidential poll “almost happened in 2007 when I contested as a running mate with President Umaru Yar’adua but it was prevented.”

He added: “I get worried by the issue of off-season elections. And I use this opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block these off-season elections. It is very odd; it is not a global best practice.

“If we continue with this trend of off-season elections based on the interpretation of our laws by the judicial officers, it will come to a time when the presidential election will be off-season.

“Look at the American system; everybody knows when the American election will be conducted.”

Naija News reports that Jonathan was Nigeria’s President between February 2010 and May 2015.