Jonathan's Defeat Concession Saved Nigeria's Democracy in 2015, LP

The Labour Party has said Nigeria's democracy survived the crisis after the 2015 general election because former President Goodluck Jonathan decided to accept defeat for the sake of the country.

Senator Nenadi Usman, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, made this statement on Tuesday in Bauchi State. She spoke with journalists during the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue.

The Labour Party's National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, shared this information in a statement.

The annual lecture by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation was titled, "Beyond Elections: Can Political Parties and the Judiciary Save African Democracy?"

Usman urged politicians aiming for office in 2027 to follow Jonathan's peaceful approach to politics and to respect democratic rules. She warned against inflammatory language that could endanger Nigeria's democratic stability.

She pointed out that Nigeria overcame fears of a democratic collapse in 2015 because Jonathan conceded defeat to Muhammadu Buhari even before the final results were announced.

She said, "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."

"Such a principled approach to politics had never before been witnessed on the Nigerian political horizon. Jonathan, from the inception of his presidency, consistently maintained that neither his election nor remaining in power was worth the blood of any Nigerian."

"And on the day this oft-repeated refrain was put to the test, the former President lived up to his preaching."

The Labour Party chairman called on politicians preparing for the 2027 elections to prioritize national interest over personal ambitions and to play by the rules.

Usman also recalled Warren Buffett's famous saying that someone enjoys shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

She said, "The democracy Nigerians practice today has survived till this day because Jonathan made sacrifices in the past."

Usman questioned whether those seeking the presidency in 2027 would be willing to make similar sacrifices for national unity, especially with the heated rhetoric from some political camps.

On the Labour Party's readiness for the 2027 elections, the former Minister of Finance described the party as the most structured opposition in Nigeria.

She said the Labour Party's ties with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, which she called constitutional members of the party, have strengthened its political structure nationwide.

"With the combined strength of the NLC and the TUC, both of which are constitutional members of the party, no Nigerian political party is better positioned to show the APC government the exit door than the Labour Party," she said.

She claimed the party is the only opposition group with a realistic presence across the country's 186,000 polling units.

The dialogue included many political leaders and dignitaries. Notable figures present were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, APC Deputy National Chairman South Dr Ben Nwoye, and the Emir of Bauchi, HRM Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.

The event also allowed discussions on how political parties and the judiciary can strengthen democratic institutions and avoid democratic setbacks in Africa.