FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has called for an end to off-cycle elections in Nigeria.

He made the call on Saturday, November 11,  after casting his vote at polling unit 39, ward 13 in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of the state.

The former President was at the polling unit with his wife, Patience.

Addressing newsmen, Jonathan said the off-season elections are held due to litigations and court judgments.

He urged the National Assembly to harmonise all state and national elections in the country.

According to him, “With the way things are going in Nigeria, the presidential election might become off-season”.

He further appealed to the National Assembly to ensure the nation’s elections enjoy global best practices.

“I get worried by the issue of off-season elections, and I use this opportunity to plead with the National Assembly that we need to block these off-season elections. It is very odd; it is not a global best practice.

“If we continue with this trend of off-season elections based on the interpretation of our laws by the judicial officers, it will come to a time when the presidential election will be off-season. Look at the American system; everybody knows when the American election will be conducted,” he said.

The ICIR reports that the Bayelsa governorship poll is one of the three off-cycle elections currently going on in the country.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 16 candidates are vying for the governorship seat in Bayelsa, including the incumbent Douye Diri who seeks re-election.