Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian politicians to respect the rules of politics and avoid using electoral contests as an excuse to engage in misconduct.
Jonathan gave the warning at a public lecture organised to mark the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi.
The former president said political competition should be conducted according to established rules, just as players in a football match are expected to follow the rules of the game.
He warned against politicians rigging elections or engaging in criminal activities while claiming that such actions are part of politics.
Jonathan said, “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.”
He added that electoral disputes arise when politicians fail to follow the rules, with the courts then required to intervene.
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Jonathan also spoke about the fight against corruption in Nigeria, saying laws and enforcement agencies alone would not be enough to eliminate the problem.
He stressed the need to promote ethical values and encourage a culture in which wrongdoing is rejected.
Meanwhile, Labour Party National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, said Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election contributed to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
Usman made the remarks while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi.
She said Jonathan conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari before the final votes were fully tallied, arguing that the decision helped prevent a possible crisis following the election.
According to Usman, the former president’s action demonstrated his willingness to place the country’s stability above personal political ambition.
She urged politicians preparing for the 2027 elections to respect democratic rules and put national interest ahead of their individual ambitions.
Usman also expressed concern over what she described as inflammatory rhetoric from different political camps, questioning whether current presidential hopefuls would make similar sacrifices for the country.
On the Labour Party’s position ahead of the next general elections, Usman described the party as the most organised opposition platform in the country.
She also pointed to the relationship between the Labour Party, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress as part of the party’s political strength.
The comments by Jonathan and Usman come as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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