Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed claims that he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election against Peter Obi in a bid to split votes in Nigeria’s South-South region, describing the allegation as false and fabricated.
Jonathan made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, who said the report was entirely baseless and intended to drag the former president into unnecessary political controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Afrilensnews reports that the rebuttal followed widespread circulation of claims alleging that Jonathan disclosed receiving a N500 billion inducement to enter the presidential race against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, to divide support in the South-South.
Eze said the report lacked the most basic elements of credible journalism, noting that it failed to state when and where Jonathan allegedly made the remarks, who purportedly made the offer, or identify any
witnesses to substantiate the claim.
He maintained that the publication bore all the hallmarks of fabricated news deliberately designed to mislead Nigerians and heighten political tension ahead of the next presidential election.
“Jonathan was never involved in the ‘N500 billion offer to divide the South’s votes against Peter Obi in the 2027 general elections.
“Nigerians should disregard the report entirely and exercise caution by verifying sensational political claims before circulating them.
“The build-up to every election season often witnesses a surge in misinformation and fake attributions,” Eze said, warning that such reports should not be mistaken for verified facts.
“Jonathan has not made any statement suggesting he was offered money to contest the presidency or undermine any candidate.”
The denial comes amid increasing political realignments and heightened speculation ahead of the 2027 general election, with prominent political figures frequently linked to unverified claims on social media.
Jonathan’s media team urged the public to verify politically sensitive reports before sharing them, warning that misinformation could inflame tensions and distort public discourse.
