Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned that Nigeria’s democracy may face renewed strain ahead of the 2027 general elections if the current trend of post-election litigation continues to overshadow the ballot box in determining electoral winners.
Jonathan raised the concern on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), themed “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democratic Process,” where he called for urgent reforms to strengthen electoral credibility and reduce the growing reliance on courts to resolve electoral outcomes.
The former president expressed worry that post-election disputes have become a permanent feature of Nigeria’s political landscape, effectively creating what he described as a parallel system for deciding who occupies elective offices.
“In Nigeria today, going to court after losing an election has become the norm, unlike in other climes where such practice is rare,” Jonathan said.
He argued that the increasing resort to litigation undermines public confidence in elections and shifts focus away from the will of voters, warning that courts should not be seen as alternative voting arenas.
Jonathan insisted that where elections are flawed, the appropriate remedy should be a fresh poll rather than judicial declarations of winners.
“The judiciary should not determine winners. If the process is flawed, let there be another election. Let the ballot decide,” he added.
The former president further questioned the structure of Nigeria’s electoral adjudication system, particularly the multiple layers of appeals for different political offices, saying inconsistencies in the process raise concerns about fairness and efficiency.
He also expressed concern over declining voter participation, describing Nigeria’s turnout as one of the lowest in Africa despite its large population, and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate deeper structural causes beyond voter apathy.
Jonathan warned that political thuggery has become increasingly normalised within the electoral process, lamenting that violence and intimidation are now being rewarded in some instances within the political space.
“Thuggery has almost become a profession in Nigeria. That is dangerous for democracy,” he said.
He called for comprehensive electoral reforms, including stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Assembly to review existing electoral laws, and proposed the establishment of a Constitutional Court dedicated exclusively to election-related disputes.
Also speaking at the event, former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, cautioned that Nigeria’s democracy is at a critical crossroads, citing declining voter confidence and rising electoral violence.
Adoke noted that voter turnout in the 2023 general elections stood at 27 per cent, the lowest since 1999, adding that vote-buying, weak party structures and excessive judicial intervention were weakening democratic institutions.
President of the NBA, Afam Osigwe, also warned against the increasing trend of political actors gaining power through violence and manipulation rather than credible elections, urging stakeholders to defend democratic values ahead of 2027.
He commended Jonathan for his 2015 concession of defeat, describing it as a landmark in Nigeria’s democratic history, and called on political leaders to emulate the gesture to safeguard the integrity of future elections.
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