Goodluck Jonathan

==Pre-presidency (1998–2010)==
Before entering into politics in 1998, Jonathan worked as an education inspector, a lecturer and an environmental-protection officer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8510390.stm|title=Profile: Goodluck Jonathan|date=6 May 2010|access-date=6 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506031609/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8510390.stm|archive-date=6 May 2010|work=BBC News}}</ref> His political career began when he became involved with the nascent People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the late 1990s.<ref name=":2"/>
Jonathan entered into politics when General [[Sani Abacha]], who ruled as [[Military dictatorship in Nigeria|military head of state]] of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998, died in office. 

In the [[1999 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election]], [[Diepreye Alamieyeseigha]] ran for governor under the platform of the [[Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)|Peoples Democratic Party]] and chose Jonathan as his running mate. Alaimeyeseigha won the election and became the first civilian [[governor of Bayelsa State]] in May 1999. They were reelected in [[2003 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election|2003]] and Jonathan's diligence and loyalty to him earned him the recognition as Nigeria's most hardworking deputy governor.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

===Governorship===
On 29 May 1999, 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. Jonathan served as Deputy Governor until December 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbooza.com/group/nigeriapolitics/forum/topics/the-man-goodluck-ebele#axzz2PIsF6bif|title=The man Goodluck Ebele Jonathan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513095246/http://www.gbooza.com/group/nigeriapolitics/forum/topics/the-man-goodluck-ebele#axzz2PIsF6bif|archive-date=13 May 2013}}</ref> On 9 December 2005, Jonathan, who was the deputy governor at the time, was sworn in as the governor of Bayelsa State upon the impeachment of governor [[Diepreye Alamieyeseigha]] by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the [[United Kingdom]].{{cn|date=March 2024}}