Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election against Peter Obi in order to split votes in the South-South.
The claim, which circulated widely on social media, was described by Jonathan’s media team as a fabricated story designed to mislead the public and draw the former president into political controversy.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, said the report was “entirely false and baseless” and lacked the basic elements of a credible news story.
According to him, the publication failed to state where or when Jonathan allegedly made the claim, identify those who purportedly offered the money, or name any witnesses.
“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 story bore “all the hallmarks of fake news deliberately crafted” to deceive members of the public.
Eze stressed that Jonathan had never claimed he was offered N500 billion to contest the presidency or to undermine Obi’s chances in the 2027 election.
He said there was no truth to claims that the former president was involved in any plot to divide southern votes during the next general election.
The presidential aide urged Nigerians to disregard the report and verify politically sensitive claims before sharing them, warning that misinformation often increases as election campaigns gather momentum.
“The former president has not made any statement suggesting he was offered money to contest the presidency or undermine any candidate,” he said.
2027 Speculation Persists
The denial comes against the backdrop of continued speculation over Jonathan’s political future ahead of the 2027 general election.
Since May, there have been reports linking the former president with a possible return to presidential politics under the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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The speculation intensified on May 30 after the faction announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election following a special national convention held at its headquarters in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
Jonathan was absent from the faction’s May 30 convention, where his certificate of return was received on his behalf by a party representative.
Silence Over PDP Nomination
While the faction has consistently maintained that he remains a registered member of its PDP structure and has announced a date for the formal presentation of the party’s flag to Jonathan, it has acknowledged that Jonathan has not publicly stated whether he has accepted the nomination.
However, the ceremony has yet to be held, with the July 11 deadline for the submission of presidential nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) drawing closer.
Meanwhile, Jonathan has yet to publicly respond to the presidential ticket offered to him by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction.
Despite being the sole presidential aspirant, the former president has neither accepted nor rejected the nomination.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.