Jonathan: N’assembly should block off-cycle polls — elections should hold same day

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he is worried about off-cycle elections becoming a part of Nigeria’s democratic journey. 

Speaking with reporters on Saturday after voting in PU 39, Ward 13 in Otuoke, Ogbia LGA, of Bayelsa state, Jonathan said the national assembly should do something about off-season polls.

“First, let me congratulate the three states that have elections today — Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi and wish them successful and peaceful elections,” Jonathan said.

“But basically, this is an off-season election and I get worried about the issue of off-season elections, and I will use this unique opportunity to plead with the national assembly that we need to block these off-season elections.

“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 our judicial officers, it will come to a time that our presidential election in Nigeria may be off-season.

“It almost happened in 2007 when I contested as a running mate to late president Yar’adua.

“The seven justices that presided over the case, three of them in their own judgment held that the election be annulled, four of them sustained and that is why we stayed.

“If one had crossed over, by now the presidential election would have been off-season election and it is not the best for a country.

“Now we have seven states that are off-season. We need to stop that and where possible these seven states too can be migrated back to fall in line with the other state and the national assembly can do that.

“That is my message for national assembly and Nigerians today.”