Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian politicians to respect the rules of political contests and avoid rigging elections in their pursuit of victory.

Jonathan made the call at a public lecture organised to mark the 80th birthday of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi. He argued that political competition, like a football match, must be conducted according to established rules, warning against using politics as an excuse for criminal or unethical conduct.

People Do Stupid, Criminal Things In Politics – Goodluck Jonathan

“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.

“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 said.

The former President also said Nigeria’s fight against corruption requires more than legislation and enforcement agencies, stressing the importance of building a society that values ethical conduct and rejects wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Labour Party National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, said Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election contributed to the preservation 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’s concession before the final results were fully announced helped avert what she described as dire predictions about the country’s democratic future.

“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 said.

She urged politicians seeking elective office in 2027 to respect electoral rules and place the national interest above personal ambitions. Usman also questioned whether current presidential aspirants would be prepared to make similar sacrifices for the country.

On the Labour Party’s political prospects, Usman described the party as the “most structured political party in Nigeria” ahead of the next general elections and said its relationship with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress would strengthen its political position.