Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated the adoption of electronic voting system by Nigeria to eliminate electoral malpractices and violence .
The Bayelsa State Governor , Mr Douye Diri , represented by his deputy , Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo , also supported electronic voting.
Jonathan and Diri berated politicians who promote and deploy thuggery and cultism as a means of winning election in the country ,
stressing that electronic voting would save the nation from election – related injuries .
Jonathan and Diri spoke during the third Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Ogbia at St . Mark’ s Anglican Church, Otakeme , in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state .
The former president blamed the rising insecurity in the country on the activities of politicians who were hell – bent on grabbing political power through the back door .
Jonathan said , “ Our political activities , particularly the use of young people as militiamen and thugs and so on to win elections , have increased the security challenges facing our nation.
“ Some of the youths they use are so protected that even the police cannot arrest them because they are ‘boys ’ to powerful politicians who use them during elections .
“ That is why I ’ve always advocated that for us to move forward as a country ; we must use electronic voting where nobody will use thugs to win elections . Immediately we use electronic voting , the issues of thuggery and cultism will drop by at least 50 per cent . ”
Diri urged youths to shun politicians who only use them to achieve their selfish political ambitions and abandon them afterwards.