Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian politicians to abide by the rules of politics and reject electoral malpractice in their pursuit of political victory.
Jonathan made the call while speaking at a public lecture organised to commemorate the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi.
The former president warned politicians against using politics as an excuse for actions that violate electoral laws and democratic principles.
According to Jonathan, political contests, like sporting competitions, must be conducted according to established rules.
“In politics, it’s a disaster. People do stupid things, also even criminal things, and they will tell you it is politics. It is not politics. Politics has rules.”
Jonathan likened politics to a football match, noting that participants are expected to follow the rules and that the courts intervene when those rules are breached.
“Politics is like a soccer match. You play according to the rules, and that’s why the courts start to mediate if you go against the rules. Otherwise, you can do anything and win an election and walk away.”
Jonathan Speaks on Corruption and Ethical Conduct
The former Nigerian leader also addressed the country’s long-running battle against corruption.
Jonathan argued that tackling corruption requires more than legislation and the establishment of enforcement agencies.
He stressed the importance of developing a society that values integrity, ethical behaviour and respect for the law.
According to him, sustainable progress in the fight against corruption will depend on changing societal attitudes towards wrongdoing.
Nenadi Usman Praises Jonathan’s 2015 Election Concession
Jonathan’s comments come amid renewed discussions about the conduct of Nigeria’s political class ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, recently praised Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election.
Usman argued that Jonathan’s concession helped protect Nigeria’s democratic process at a critical moment in the country’s political history.
She made the remarks while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi.
According to Usman, Jonathan’s decision to concede before the final results were fully announced demonstrated a willingness to place national stability above personal political ambition.
“Nigeria’s democracy survived the doomsday predictions of bookmakers in 2015 because of President Jonathan’s concession of defeat in that year’s election, even before the final votes were tallied.”
Usman described the former president’s action as an important example of political restraint and said Jonathan had consistently maintained that neither winning an election nor remaining in office was worth the life of any Nigerian.
She urged politicians preparing for the 2027 presidential election to similarly respect democratic rules and place the national interest above individual political ambitions.
Labour Party Speaks on 2027 Political Ambitions
Speaking about the Labour Party’s preparations for the next general elections, Usman described the party as the most organised opposition platform in the country.
She also highlighted the relationship between the Labour Party and organised labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“The Labour Party is the most structured political party in Nigeria going into the next general elections.”
Usman added that the combined strength of the NLC and TUC placed the Labour Party in a strong position to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.
Her remarks come as Nigerian political parties and presidential aspirants begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Jonathan’s 2015 Legacy Remains Part of Nigeria’s Democratic Debate
Jonathan’s 2015 concession continues to feature prominently in discussions about democratic transitions and political conduct in Nigeria.
Usman quoted investor Warren Buffett while making her argument about the importance of sacrifices made by previous political leaders.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
She questioned whether politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 would be willing to make comparable sacrifices in the interest of national stability, particularly amid increasingly heated political rhetoric.
The comments have renewed attention on the importance of electoral rules, peaceful political competition and the conduct of political actors as Nigeria approaches another general election cycle.
