Jonathan calls for end to off-cycle elections

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to take appropriate legislative measures to stop off-cycle elections in the country.

Jonathan said, after casting his vote in the ongoing governorship election in Bayelsa, that it was important for Nigeria to unify its electoral calendar.

Supreme News reports that Jonathan voted at polling unit 39 in Otazi Ward 13, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

He told newsmen at his Otuoke country home that the National Assembly should block the off-season election because it is neither the best for the country nor a globally acceptable practise.

"Basically, this is an off-season election. I get worried about off-season elections and will use this opportunity to plead with the National Assembly to block them.

“This is not the best practise. The country can elect its people at the same time, like the Americans, who elect everybody at the same time.

“If we continue with this, there will be a time when the Nigerian presidential election will be off-season, and Nigerians will be worried.

“When I say Nigeria presidential election, maybe off-season, they may say how and why, but it almost happened in 2007 when I was the running mate to the late Umaru Musa Yaradua.

“In that election, seven justices presided over the case, and three of them said the process be annulled while four of them sustained it.

“If one had crossed over by now, the Nigerian election would have been off-season,” he added.