Jonathan and Other Leaders Set for Peace Conference in Abuja

Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, who also founded the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, will join former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, and former ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Peace and Security Conference in Abuja.

Mr Touray is set to give the keynote speech at the conference on Tuesday, 17 November, at the National Defence College.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Safeguarding Trust and Strengthening Social Cohesion in Competitive Political Environment.” This comes at a crucial time as Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, with rising worries about political tensions, public trust in democracy, national security, and the need to promote peaceful political competition.

The conference will gather political leaders, policy makers, security experts, diplomats, civil society members, and other key players to discuss ways to prevent electoral violence, reduce political unrest, strengthen democracy, and promote national unity.

Ahead of the event, Ann Iyonu, the Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, said that peace is key for democracy, national growth, and economic progress, not just in Nigeria but also in West Africa.

She pointed out that Nigeria needs peace to maintain its democracy, boost its institutions, and create a good environment for growth and development, especially as another important election period approaches.

Iyonu explained that Nigeria’s stability affects the entire region due to its political, economic, and security importance.

She warned that political tensions, electoral violence, and a drop in public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions could have serious effects on regional stability, possibly worsening insecurity, disrupting businesses, and undermining efforts to promote peace and democracy in West Africa.

Iyonu stressed that Nigeria’s dedication to fair elections, peaceful political dialogue, and respect for democratic institutions is vital for building democratic strength across the ECOWAS region.

She highlighted that the conference is a chance for regional leaders and stakeholders to think about shared problems, share experiences, and develop collective strategies to stop electoral violence, address political unrest, and support democratic progress.

She added that peaceful political dialogue, trust, accountability, and respect for democratic processes are crucial to avoiding conflicts that could threaten national and regional stability and reverse development.

The 2026 conference continues the Foundation’s past peace conferences from 2019 and 2022 and is part of its wider goal to prevent conflicts, build peace, ensure democratic accountability, and promote peaceful political transitions in Africa.

Topics at the conference will address national security and social cohesion in a competitive political environment, especially the impact of unmanaged political tensions on national stability, economic activities, public trust, and institutional credibility.

The discussions will also cover how security institutions can maintain constitutional order and protect lives and property while stressing the need for accountability, public trust, community engagement, and inclusive governance.

The Foundation believes that a good approach to protecting Nigeria’s democracy must include not only security measures but also early conflict prevention, responsible political behavior, transparency in institutions, and ongoing dialogue among competing interests.

As the 2027 general elections draw near, the conference aims to serve as a platform for national reflection and agreement on ways to enhance democratic resilience, prevent political violence, and ensure that electoral competition supports national development instead of causing instability.

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation is dedicated to promoting democracy, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, good governance, and sustainable development in Africa through dialogue, research, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.