Don’t ruin your good name”: Anglican primate urges Jonathan to withdraw from 2027 presidential race

The Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Msgr. Henry Ndukuba, has urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to resist the temptation to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Ndukuba gave this advice while delivering his address at the first session of the 13th Synod of the Diocese of Abuja, Saturday, May 16, 2026.

The cleric warned that a return to partisan politics could diminish the reputation as a statesman and global respect that Jonathan currently enjoys.

Ndukuba said Jonathan had already secured an indelible place in history as a symbol of democratic maturity and peaceful leadership, particularly after his historic concession of defeat following the 2015 presidential election.

He said, “We don’t want you to ruin that good name and please, stay away for now, just let them play it off. Be the old man you should be.”

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

“You are a symbol that should endure; you are a hope for our generation, that it is possible for us to be civilized, to lead with integrity, and possible for us to pass on a worthy legacy to those who come after us.”

Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), lost the 2015 elections to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His immediate call to Buhari admitting defeat before the final results were announced was widely praised for averting potential widespread post-election violence in the country.

Since leaving office, the former president has become a leading international statesman, regularly leading high-profile election observation missions and peace-brokering efforts across Africa on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).

Despite his status as a statesman, speculation about Jonathan’s potential return to the political fray has continued.

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