Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concerns over the accuracy of Nigeria’s vote count, citing the prevalence of “ghost voters” as a major flaw in the electoral system.
Speaking at the YIAGA Africa Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa, held in Abuja on Tuesday, Jonathan emphasized the need for integrity in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He urged electoral officials to resign rather than succumb to political pressure to manipulate elections.
“In Nigeria, you can’t get an accurate vote count because we have too many ghost voters,” Jonathan stated. “We need credible people in INEC—officials who would rather resign than be forced into wrongdoing.”
He warned that without ethical leadership in electoral management, Nigeria’s democracy would continue to face credibility challenges.
Jonathan also criticized the regionalization of elections, stressing that it fuels political division and hinders the country’s ability to elect competent leaders. He called for electoral reforms, an improved voter registration system, and a voting process resistant to manipulation.
Reflecting on recent elections in West Africa, Jonathan noted that countries like Ghana, Liberia, and Senegal conducted credible polls with limited technology, while Nigeria and Sierra Leone faced increased agitation and legal battles despite deploying advanced electoral tools.
“The human element is crucial. No matter how sophisticated technology is, elections will remain flawed without the political will to uphold integrity,” he said.
He urged West African nations to strengthen democracy through youth participation, independent electoral bodies, and effective reforms, warning that without these, public trust in the system would continue to erode.
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