Ahead of Saturday’s scheduled governorship election in Edo State, former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has called for peace and urged state institutions involved in the process to ensure a level playing field for a free and fair election. In a statement released on Thursday by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan emphasized the critical role of institutions like the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in upholding their constitutional duties as neutral arbiters.
Jonathan stressed that for democracy to thrive, elections must be free from manipulation, with state institutions guaranteeing peaceful, credible, and transparent processes. He urged INEC to fulfill its responsibilities as an unbiased umpire and inspire trust among all participants by ensuring a transparent voting process.
He further warned that a lack of confidence in the electoral process could lead to political disputes, social unrest, voter apathy, and increased division, all of which could hinder development and weaken democratic progress.
As the Edo governorship election approaches on September 21, 2024, I urge all political actors and stakeholders to focus on strengthening our democracy by prioritizing peace and security in the state. Politicians must pursue their goals within the framework of the law and avoid actions that could destabilize the state. While it is commendable that civil rule has endured for 25 years in the Fourth Republic, we must remind ourselves that democracy only thrives when citizens are able to freely exercise their political choices.
For democracy to endure, our leadership selection process must be free from manipulation, and state institutions must ensure peaceful, credible, and transparent elections. This will allow citizens to elect leaders who have the legitimacy to deliver good governance, peace, and prosperity.
Security agencies must maintain strict neutrality and avoid actions that could disrupt a level-playing field or compromise the election’s credibility. Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must meet its responsibility as an impartial umpire, fostering confidence in the process by ensuring transparency. A loss of trust in elections often leads to political disputes, social unrest, voter apathy, and deepened divisions—all of which can hinder development and democratic progress.
In the interest of preserving peace and the integrity of our electoral system, I call on both INEC and security agencies to act with professionalism and neutrality in fulfilling their duties. The Edo election places a moral responsibility on these institutions, particularly the police and INEC, to uphold their constitutional roles as independent arbiters in our democratic process.
