Goodluck Jonathan accuses bad politicians of undermining Nigerian electoral process

A former president, Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, blamed bad politicians for undermining the Nigerian electoral process.

Speaking in Port-Harcourt during a book presentation, the former president accused politicians of grooming boys whom they use as political thugs during elections, The Nation reports.

He said while these politicians send their children abroad for schooling in the best universities in the world, they hire a group of boys and begin to groom for the purpose of undermining the electoral process.

Jonathan stated that electoral malpractices and their ills in governance can be ended through the adoption of the electronic system of voting.

He warned that the wrong people will continue to occupy leadership positions in Nigeria until the voting system is sanitised.

The former president also raised concerns about events occurring ahead of the scheduled governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa state.

“Looking at what is happening now, we will have off-season elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states.

“The signals coming from both states are quite disturbing; the use of thugs, shooting guns already some people has been killed, when we have not even started the voting process. This needn’t happen if we get to a point in this country where voters’ card matter,” he said.

Jonathan advocated for Nigeria to join the rest of the developed world in adopting the electronic voting system in the elections.

Meanwhile, as the governorship election in Kogi draws near, Muhammed Adamu, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has warned that his men would not hesitate to bring down anyone caught making use of illegal firearms.

The Nation reports that Adamu issued the warning while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting for peace pact ahead of the election convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Adamu also cautioned politicians against acts that endanger the election process adding that on the day of the poll, anyone caught roaming without a reason would be arrested.