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Jonathan Advocates Exclusion of Military from Election Duties
- Former President Goodluck Jonathan wants the military excluded from election duties.
- He criticized Nigeria’s reliance on soldiers for election security.
- Jonathan urged reforms to ensure fair and transparent voting processes.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for the exclusion of the military from election security and the general management of elections in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch of two books, Selected Readings in Internal Security and Selected Readings in Election Security Management, Jonathan emphasized the need to rethink the role of the military in Nigeria’s electoral process.
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Eko Hot Blog reports that Jonathan, who chaired the event, noted that in most developed nations, the military does not play an active role in election security. Instead, law enforcement agencies such as the police handle the process while the military is only deployed in extreme circumstances.
“In most other countries, the military doesn’t get involved in the day-to-day management of elections. They are only used to manage strategic systems,” Jonathan stated. He cited Botswana as an example, explaining that during elections, police officers manage election security while the military takes over routine police duties such as securing government facilities.
The former president criticized Nigeria’s approach to election management, arguing that heavy military presence at polling units is unnecessary.
He described a simpler voting process observed in other countries, where voters select their preferred candidates without the presence of security forces.
He expressed concern that Nigeria continues to accept and celebrate electoral malpractices. “We, Nigerians, celebrate the wrong thing. And I believe one day, the country will get to the level where people will reject bad behavior,” he said.
Jonathan stressed the importance of electoral bodies and law enforcement agencies in ensuring free and fair elections, adding that misconduct thrives because society tolerates it.
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“I don’t think people lack the knowledge to do the right thing. They knowingly do the wrong thing because society accepts it,” he remarked.
His comments have reignited the debate on electoral reforms in Nigeria, particularly on the role of security agencies in the voting process. Observers believe his call for military exclusion could lead to a more democratic and less intimidating electoral atmosphere.
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