Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for urgent electoral reforms in Nigeria, focusing on improving the appointment process for the independent national electoral commission (INEC )Chairman and curbing political defections.
Speaking at a dialogue organized by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought (via his foundation’s Executive Director, Ann Iyonu), Jonathan acknowledged democratic progress since 1999 but highlighted persistent issues undermining electoral credibility.
He proposed that an independent panel—including civil society, judiciary, academia, and trade unions—should oversee INEC Chair appointments to ensure neutrality and public trust. Jonathan also condemned the rising trend of political defections (“cross-carpeting”) and recommended creating an Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to enforce party discipline and declare defectors’ seats vacant.
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