Otuoke, Nigeria
Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria has advocated for an end to off-cycle elections in the country.
Jonathan made the call on Saturday in Otuoke after casting his vote at polling unit 39, Ward 13 in Ogbia local government area of the state in the ongoing Bayelsa governorship off-cycle election.
The former president speaking with newsmen, said the off-season elections are held due to litigations and court judgments.
He said the National Assembly should work to harmonise all state and national elections in the country.
“With the way things are going in Nigeria, the presidential election might become off-season,” Jonathan said.
He also appealed to the National Assembly to ensure the nation’s elections enjoy global best practices.
“I get worried by the issue of off-season elections, and I use this opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block these off-season elections. It is very odd; 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 the judicial officers, it will come to a time when the presidential election will be off-season. Look at the American system; everybody knows when the American election will be conducted,” he said.
