Goodluck Jonathan, former president, has denied allegations that he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election against Peter Obi, describing the claim as false, malicious and part of a growing wave of political misinformation ahead of the next general election.
Jonathan, through his Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, dismissed the report on Sunday after it gained traction on social media, where it alleged that the former president rejected a massive financial inducement intended to persuade him to challenge Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and split votes in the South-South region.
In a statement, Eze said the report was “entirely false and baseless” and urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as a fabricated publication designed to mislead the public and drag the former president into unnecessary political controversy.
“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 added that the publication bore “all the hallmarks of fake news deliberately crafted” to create confusion and inflame political tensions as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
According to Eze, the approach of every election season is often accompanied by an increase in misinformation, fabricated statements and false attributions involving prominent political figures. He therefore urged Nigerians to verify sensational claims through credible sources before sharing them.
The report, which circulated widely on Facebook on Sunday, claimed that Jonathan disclosed he had turned down a N500 billion offer to contest against Obi in the 2027 presidential election. However, the publication did not provide any evidence, identify the source of the alleged statement or disclose the individuals behind the purported offer.
Jonathan’s latest rebuttal comes amid sustained speculation over his possible return to frontline politics. Since May, reports have linked the former president with a potential presidential bid under the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The speculation intensified on May 30 when the faction announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election during a special national convention held at the party’s national office in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
The faction also announced that a date would be fixed for the formal presentation of the party’s presidential flag to the former president. However, that ceremony has yet to take place, even as the July 11 deadline for the submission of presidential nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) draws near.
Jonathan has yet to publicly declare any intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, leaving uncertainty over his political future despite mounting speculation and repeated efforts to link him with various political platforms.
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