Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan has condemned what he described as an emerging trend in political conduct, where governors and other political leaders from outside a state attempt to influence the outcome of off-cycle elections.
Jonathan in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to the outcome of the just-concluded governorship election in Osun State, warned that such political conduct demands national attention.
There were reports that about 16 governors, who are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, had stormed Osun State in show of federal might, to help party’s candidate.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and other top political leaders were also in the state a few days to the election, which spiked the political tension in the state, amid political violence and intimation.
“While we commend the electoral process itself, there are developments surrounding the election and, more importantly, an emerging trend in political conduct during off-cycle elections that raises concerns.
“The growing practice whereby serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential government functionaries, accompanied by large numbers of aides and heavy security details from outside a state, converge on states where elections are being conducted, raises an issue that demands national attention,” Jonathan stated.
He also pointed out that similar political outings were recorded during the off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Ondo State, describing the trend as unusual.
“It is not a practice that should become normal in a democratic society”, he added.