Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false reports alleging that he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election against Peter Obi in an attempt to divide votes in Nigeria’s South-South region.
The former president, through his Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, described the report as entirely fabricated and urged Nigerians to ignore what he called a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The allegation, which circulated widely on Facebook and other social media platforms, claimed that Jonathan had revealed he was offered the huge sum to enter the 2027 presidential race. The report quickly attracted widespread attention, generating political discussions and speculation across the country.
However, in a statement issued on Sunday, Eze firmly denied the claim, insisting that there was no truth whatsoever in the report.
According to him, the publication failed to provide any credible evidence to support the allegation, including where or when Jonathan allegedly made the statement, who was present during the purported conversation, or the identity of the individual or group said to have made the offer.
He said the absence of these basic details exposed the report as a fabricated story designed to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
“The report failed to state where or when Jonathan allegedly made such a claim, who was present or who purportedly made the alleged offer,” Eze said.
He further argued that the publication carried all the characteristics of fake news intentionally created to stir unnecessary political tension and drag the former president into controversies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Eze noted that Jonathan has consistently refrained from making statements capable of overheating the nation’s political atmosphere and remains committed to promoting peace, democracy and national unity.
He warned members of the public against spreading unverified political reports, particularly those originating from anonymous social media accounts or platforms lacking credible sources.
The media adviser also urged journalists and social media users to verify information before sharing it, stressing that false reports have the potential to undermine public trust and fuel unnecessary political anxiety.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has repeatedly been linked with speculation about a possible return to active electoral politics despite not publicly declaring interest in contesting future presidential elections.
Over the years, his name has surfaced in various political discussions, particularly during election seasons, with supporters and political groups occasionally urging him to return to the political arena. Nevertheless, the former president has largely remained focused on democracy advocacy, election observation missions across Africa and peace-building initiatives.
The latest denial comes as political conversations surrounding the 2027 presidential election continue to gather momentum, with several political figures and interest groups already positioning themselves ahead of the polls.
Observers say the spread of politically charged misinformation on social media has become increasingly common as the country moves closer to another election cycle, prompting repeated calls for citizens to verify claims before accepting or sharing them.
Jonathan’s media office maintained that the former president should not be drawn into baseless political narratives, insisting that the viral report was nothing more than a fabricated story intended to create confusion and attract public attention.
The statement concluded by advising Nigerians to disregard the claim entirely, reaffirming that no such offer was ever made to the former president and that the story has no factual basis.
