1. Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari and was the first incumbent president in Nigerian history to concede defeat in an election, thus allowing for a peaceful transition of power.
Previously, Jonathan served as the vice president of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 under the administration of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua; and in oil-rich Bayelsa State as governor from 2005 to 2007, and deputy governor from 1999 to 2005.
In 2015, Goodluck Jonathan became the first Nigerian president to concede election defeat.
Goodluck Jonathan was born on 20 November 1957 in Ogbia to a Christian Ijaw family of canoe makers, in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.
Goodluck Jonathan's father, Lawrence Ebele Jonathan, was a canoe maker and his mother, Eunice Ayi Ebele Jonathan, was a retired farmer.
Goodluck Jonathan received a bachelor's degree in zoology, a master's degree in hydrobiology and fisheries biology; and a doctorate in zoology from the University of Port Harcourt.
Goodluck Jonathan entered into politics when General Sani Abacha, who ruled as military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998, died in office.
On 29 May 1999, Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as deputy governor of Bayelsa alongside Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who came in as the governor of the state on the platform of PDP.
On 9 December 2005, Goodluck Jonathan, who was the deputy governor at the time, was sworn in as the governor of Bayelsa State upon the removal of governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom.
Goodluck Jonathan was named Acting President of Nigeria on 9 February 2010, following a controversial doctrine of necessity from the Senate of Nigeria due to President Yar'Adua's trip to Saudi Arabia in November 2009 for medical treatment.
On 10 February 2010, his first day as acting president, Goodluck Jonathan announced a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Goodluck Jonathan gave his inauguration address where he declared his government was to focus on a Transformation Agenda and promised to continue implementing the seven-point agenda policy framework of President Yar'Adua.
Goodluck Jonathan cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reforms as focuses of his administration.
Goodluck Jonathan stated that he came to office under "very sad and unusual circumstances".
The Goodluck Jonathan administration accrued over US$454 billion while in office from oil revenue.
Goodluck Jonathan previously served as an assistant director at the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development commission between 1993 and 1998.
The Goodluck Jonathan administration oversaw the construction of new railways in the country, including the Abuja-Kaduna railway, and conceptualized high-speed rail projects.
Goodluck Jonathan's administration oversaw the construction of the second Niger Bridge between Onitsha and Asaba, which helped relieve the pressure on the old 1965 Niger Bridge, as well as the construction of airports across the country.
On 2 August 2010, Goodluck Jonathan launched his 'Roadmap for Power Sector Reform'.
In January 2013, Goodluck Jonathan reportedly promised $4 million to assist in cleaning up villages that have been affected by a lead poisoning incident.
On 1 January 2012, the Goodluck Jonathan administration announced the start of a controversial plan to end fuel subsidies.
Protesters and groups called for Goodluck Jonathan to resign over the removal of fuel subsidies.
In 2012, upon the partial removal of petrol subsidies, the Goodluck Jonathan administration instituted a subsidy re-investment programme designed to spend the money saved from partial petrol price deregulation on physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, etc.
Goodluck Jonathan mentioned that the Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, briefed him on the corrupt practices uncovered by a technical committee she has assembled.
Goodluck Jonathan expressed alarm that billions of naira were being lost by the nation due to the subsidy regime.
Ibrahim Babangida, joined millions of Nigerians protesting against the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Goodluck Jonathan administration, saying that the action is ill-timed.
In March 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the 2014 National Conference.
Goodluck Jonathan was described as having appeared to be "terribly ill" when he left Monrovia.
Goodluck Jonathan's administration was heavily criticized for its failure to tackle insecurity.
On 29 May 2011, a few hours after Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president, several bombings purportedly by Boko Haram killed 15 and injured 55.
On 16 January 2014, it was reported that Goodluck Jonathan had sacked his military high command in response to their inability to end the Islamist-led insurgency in Northern Nigeria.
Many demonstrations called for the government to be more responsive; Goodluck Jonathan asked that demonstrators focus on blaming Boko Haram itself for the abductions.
Goodluck Jonathan initially denied that there had been any abduction at all, but then later signaled his government would do a prisoner release in exchange for the kidnapped girls.
Goodluck Jonathan then called off the exchange at the last minute on 24 May 2014.
On 31 March 2015, Goodluck Jonathan conceded the election to challenger Muhammadu Buhari, who was sworn in to succeed him on 29 May 2015.
Since leaving office, Goodluck Jonathan has continued to defend his administration.
In June 2019, Goodluck Jonathan was named chairperson of the newly inaugurated International Summit Council for Peace.
In July 2020, Goodluck Jonathan was appointed special envoy of the Economic Community of West African States to lead mediation talks during the 2020 Malian protests.
Nothing was later heard of it, as Goodluck Jonathan never appeared for screening at the APC Secretariat.
In 2023, Goodluck Jonathan was appointed head of delegation for the African Union and COMESA in the 2023 Zimbabwean general election.
Goodluck Jonathan is known for sporting his trademark fedora that is commonly worn by inhabitants of the Niger Delta.