2015: Jonathan’s Sacrifice Saved Nigeria’s Democracy

Nenadi Usman praised Jonathan’s decision to concede the 2015 election.
She urged 2027 presidential candidates to prioritise Nigeria over ambition.
Usman said Labour Party remains well positioned to challenge APC.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, has said Nigeria’s democracy survived in 2015 because of the sacrifice made by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

EDITOR’S PICKS

Olodo Uprising: Sanwo-Olu Advises Youths to Embrace Knowledge, Curiosity
BBN Season 11 Kicks Off with Unveiling of 24 Housemates Competing for ₦160m Grand Prize
Why Africa Must Stop Exporting Raw Materials, Lessons From Benin for Nigeria

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Usman said Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the 2015 presidential election before the final results were announced helped prevent what she described as dire predictions about the country’s democratic future.

She made the remarks while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi on Monday.

The Labour Party chairman praised Jonathan’s decision, saying the former president demonstrated a principled approach to politics that had rarely been witnessed in Nigeria.

“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 described Jonathan’s concession as an unprecedented gesture in Nigeria’s political history and said it reflected his commitment to the country’s democratic process.

Usman noted that Jonathan had consistently maintained from the beginning of his presidency that neither his election nor remaining in office was worth the blood of any Nigerian.

According to her, the former President demonstrated the sincerity of that position when he conceded defeat following the 2015 presidential election.

Usman urged politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 to respect democratic rules and place the interests of Nigeria above their personal ambitions.

Quoting investor Warren Buffett, she said: “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

She added: “The democracy Nigerians practise today has survived till this day because Jonathan made sacrifices in the past.”

The Labour Party chairman questioned whether any of the current presidential hopefuls would be willing to make similar sacrifices in the interest of the country.

She raised the concern against the backdrop of what she described as the “enormity of inflammatory rhetoric” emanating from the camps of political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

Usman said political actors should learn from Jonathan’s conduct in 2015 and prioritise national stability over personal political interests.

Speaking about the Labour Party’s prospects ahead of the next general elections, Usman described the party as the most organised opposition platform in the country.

“The Labour Party is the most structured political party in Nigeria going into the next general elections.

2015: Jonathan’s Sacrifice Saved Nigeria’s Democracy

“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.

Usman’s comments come as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.