Former President Goodluck Jonathan says impartial electoral commissions and non-partisan security operatives are key to conducting credible elections in the West African sub-region.

Mr Jonathan made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja during his address at a two-day Reflection Conference on Democratic Elections in West Africa.

The conference theme was “Strengthening Democratic Processes in West Africa: Lessons from 2024 Elections and Prospects for Future Elections.”

He said independent electoral commissions and unbiased security forces are the cornerstone of credible elections.

“We must invest in building the capacity of these institutions and safeguarding their independence from political interference,” he said.

He emphasised that the success or failure of any election depends on two critical agencies: the electoral management body and the police.

“The stability of a democracy is strongly tied to how its elections are conducted and policed,” Mr Jonathan stated.

Mr Jonathan stressed the need for regular reviews of electoral laws to address emerging challenges and incorporate best practices.

He also urged the increased use of technology, noting that while human interference sometimes frustrates its application, automation enhances transparency, efficiency, and public confidence.

Mr Jonathan called for greater political tolerance and inclusion, stressing the need to address instability’s root causes, including poverty, inequality, and climate change.

“Political leaders and citizens must commit to good governance, tolerance, inclusion, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence,” he said.

Reflecting on the 2023–2024 elections in West Africa, he noted that while there were achievements, there was also an urgent need to tackle threats to democratic credibility.

“By learning from these experiences and working together, we can build a West Africa where elections reflect the people’s will and strengthen democracy,” Mr Jonathan stated.

He urged governments and civil society organisations to mobilise youths to become more politically conscious and embrace electoral integrity.

Speaking in a keynote address titled “Democratic Elections in West Africa: Challenges and Prospects,” former INEC chair Attahiru Jega highlighted concerns about democracy’s evolution in Africa.

He noted that elected representatives often failed to serve the people’s interests, advancing individual and parochial agendas instead.

“Elected representatives have obstructed freedoms associated with liberal democracy, turning elections into farcical rituals to maintain incumbents in power,” Jega said.

He stressed the role of civil society in advocating democratic reforms and strengthening electoral frameworks.

Mr Jega called on regional bodies like ECOWAS and individual governments to uphold democratic principles to prevent backsliding.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, acknowledged West Africa’s democratic progress.

However, he noted that recent trends had introduced new challenges requiring collective attention. He pledged the EU’s support for credible and transparent elections in the region.

The executive director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, emphasised that elections should not be seen as a single-day event but as part of a broader democratic process.

(NAN)