By IROYIN YORUBA TELEVISION
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has warned Nigerian politicians against treating the pursuit of electoral victory as justification for breaking established rules, saying political competition must operate within a framework of laws and accountability.
Jonathan made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at a public lecture organised to mark the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kanu Agabi.
His comments come as political activity increases ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections, with political parties and aspirants already organising structures, selecting candidates and beginning preparations for campaigns.
Jonathan said political competition should not be treated as an environment where every action becomes acceptable simply because it is carried out in pursuit of an electoral objective.
He compared politics with a football match, explaining that participants are expected to compete according to established rules and that disputes should be handled through recognised institutions, including the courts.
The former president said politicians sometimes engage in actions that may violate legal or ethical standards and subsequently describe those actions as ordinary political behaviour.
His position was that political competition has boundaries and that electoral victory does not remove the obligation to obey those boundaries.
RULES AND ELECTORAL COMPETITION
The question of how political actors conduct themselves during elections has remained an important issue in Nigeria, particularly because election periods can generate disputes over campaign conduct, nomination processes, voting procedures and the declaration of results.
Nigeria's electoral framework provides rules governing political parties, candidates, voters and election officials. The Independent National Electoral Commission is responsible for organising federal and state elections within the powers granted to it by law, while courts provide mechanisms for challenging decisions and election outcomes where parties believe legal requirements have not been followed.
Jonathan's comments place emphasis on the importance of respecting those institutional processes.
His reference to the courts also reflects the role judicial institutions play in resolving electoral disputes. Candidates and political parties have repeatedly turned to the courts following elections when they challenge nominations, procedures or results.
The existence of judicial remedies means that political disagreements do not necessarily have to be settled through confrontation outside the legal system.
However, the former president's remarks also point to a broader issue: the rules governing elections are meaningful only when political actors, institutions and voters are prepared to respect them.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONDUCT BEFORE AND AFTER ELECTIONS
Electoral integrity is not determined only on voting day.
The process begins with political parties selecting candidates and organising their internal activities. It continues through voter registration, campaign activities, the publication of election information, accreditation, voting, counting and the declaration of results.
Each stage has rules intended to regulate the conduct of participants.
Political parties therefore have responsibilities before candidates reach the ballot. Internal disputes over membership registers, primaries and candidate selection can affect who eventually appears on the ballot and can result in litigation.
Candidates and their supporters also have responsibilities during campaigns. The use of inflammatory language, intimidation, violence, misinformation or other unlawful tactics can affect public confidence and create tension within communities.
On election day, the responsibilities extend to voters, election officials, security personnel, observers, political agents and candidates.
The process does not end when results are announced. Where a party or candidate believes the law was breached, the legal system provides procedures for challenging the result.
Jonathan's comments can therefore be understood within the wider question of whether political competition should remain subject to institutional rules throughout the entire electoral cycle.
JONATHAN ALSO ADDRESSED CORRUPTION
At the same event, Jonathan linked political conduct to Nigeria's wider struggle against corruption.
He argued that legislation and enforcement agencies alone cannot resolve corruption unless society also develops stronger standards of ethical behaviour.
His argument focused on the relationship between laws, institutions and social attitudes.
Nigeria has established several institutions and legal frameworks aimed at preventing and prosecuting corruption. These include agencies responsible for financial-crime investigations, public-sector accountability and enforcement of criminal laws.
Yet the existence of laws does not automatically determine how effectively they operate.
Investigations must be conducted, evidence must be preserved, cases must be prosecuted and courts must make decisions based on the evidence presented before them.
Political leaders and public officials also make decisions about the management of public resources, procurement, appointments and government programmes. The quality of those decisions can affect public trust in government.
Jonathan therefore argued for a culture in which ethical conduct becomes normal rather than treating corruption solely as an issue to be addressed after an offence has occurred.
PUBLIC OFFICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The former president also emphasised the importance of treating public office as a responsibility.
The principle of accountability requires public officials to explain how decisions are made and how public resources are used, particularly where those decisions have significant consequences for citizens.
In practical terms, accountability can involve financial reporting, legislative oversight, audits, investigations and judicial review.
It can also involve public scrutiny by journalists, civil society organisations and citizens.
These mechanisms do not replace criminal investigations or judicial proceedings, but they can provide additional layers of oversight.
The effectiveness of such mechanisms depends partly on the independence and capacity of the institutions involved.
Where institutions are able to operate according to established rules, disputes can be handled through formal processes rather than personal confrontation.
THE 2027 POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Jonathan's comments were made against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Political parties have already begun building structures and announcing candidates for various positions, while politicians are increasingly discussing electoral alliances and campaign strategies.
The next election cycle is expected to generate considerable political activity across the country.
For political parties, the period ahead involves more than selecting presidential candidates. Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly contests will also require nomination processes and campaign organisation.
The legal framework governing those processes is therefore becoming increasingly important.
Recent court cases involving political parties and candidate nominations have demonstrated how disputes over internal party procedures can move through the judicial system.
The Supreme Court's recent interpretation of provisions of the Electoral Act concerning party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures has also reinforced the importance of compliance with statutory requirements.
Against this background, Jonathan's warning about rules applies not only to conduct on election day but also to the processes leading up to the ballot.
WHY POLITICAL ACTORS TURN TO THE COURTS
Election disputes are an established part of Nigeria's democratic system.
When candidates or parties believe that an election has not complied with the law, they can seek judicial intervention within the prescribed legal framework.
Courts can examine evidence and determine whether relevant electoral laws and procedures were followed.
This process is intended to provide a legal avenue for resolving disputes without relying on extra-legal methods.
However, litigation can also extend the period of uncertainty surrounding an election result, particularly when cases move through several levels of the judiciary.
The availability of judicial review therefore makes compliance with electoral rules important before, during and after voting.
Political actors who follow the established procedures reduce the circumstances in which disputes may arise, although compliance does not eliminate disagreements altogether.
A MESSAGE AHEAD OF THE NEXT ELECTION
Jonathan's remarks were not an endorsement of any political party or candidate. Rather, he spoke about the conduct of political competition and the responsibilities associated with seeking electoral office.
His comments also placed the issue of political behaviour within the broader context of democratic institutions.
For voters, the conduct of political actors can affect the environment in which citizens make electoral choices. Access to candidates, freedom to campaign, security at political events and the availability of accurate information are all relevant to meaningful participation.
For political parties, the period before an election requires compliance with both electoral legislation and their own constitutional and procedural requirements.
For government institutions, the challenge is to apply the law consistently and provide mechanisms through which complaints can be investigated and resolved.
For security agencies, maintaining a peaceful environment during political activities is another part of the electoral process.
The 2027 elections will therefore involve a network of responsibilities shared among political parties, candidates, election officials, security agencies, the judiciary, the media and voters.
Jonathan's warning adds his voice to the continuing public discussion about how those responsibilities should be exercised.
The former president's central message was that electoral ambition does not remove the obligation to follow established rules.
As political activities intensify, disputes over nominations, campaigns and electoral procedures are likely to continue forming part of the political landscape.
How those disputes are handled will depend on the actions of political actors and the institutions responsible for enforcing and interpreting Nigeria's electoral laws.
For now, Jonathan has urged politicians to recognise that winning an election and complying with the rules governing the contest are not separate objectives. In his view, political competition must remain within the boundaries established by law and democratic institutions.