Anglican Primate Henry Ndukuba advises Goodluck Jonathan against a 2027 bid to protect his respected legacy

The Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Henry Ndukuba, has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan against returning to partisan politics ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

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Ndukuba gave the caution on Saturday while delivering his address at the First Session of the 13th Synod of the Diocese of Abuja in Abuja.

The Anglican primate warned that contesting again could weaken the respected statesman image Jonathan has built since leaving office in 2015.

According to Ndukuba, the former president has already earned a powerful place in Nigeria’s democratic history, especially after conceding defeat peacefully in the 2015 presidential election.

“We don’t want you to spoil that good name and please, keep off for now, let them just play it. Be the senior citizen that you should be,” Ndukuba said.

The cleric praised Jonathan’s contributions to democratic stability in Nigeria and across Africa, describing him as a symbol of integrity and peaceful leadership.

“We thank God for your life, not only for Nigeria but for the West Africa region, ECOWAS, and Africa.

“You are a symbol that should stand; you are a hope for our generation, that it is possible for us to be civil, to lead with integrity, and possible for us to pass on a worthy legacy to those coming after us,” he added.

Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party before losing the 2015 election to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

His widely praised telephone call conceding defeat to Buhari before the final declaration of results was seen as a defining moment that helped prevent post election unrest.

Since leaving office, Jonathan has emerged as a respected international statesman, leading election observation and peace mediation missions across Africa for the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union.