By Amah
Kindly share:
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false and mischievous reports alleging that he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election against Peter Obi.
Jonathan’s denial comes amid growing political speculation ahead of the next general election and follows the circulation of a report claiming he had been approached with a massive financial offer to enter the presidential race in a bid to split votes in Nigeria’s South-South region.
Reacting in a statement issued on Sunday, his Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, described the allegation as fabricated and a deliberate attempt to drag the former president into needless political controversy.
Eze said Jonathan never made any statement suggesting that he was offered money to contest the presidency or to undermine the political fortunes of any candidate.
He faulted the publication for failing to provide the basic elements of a credible report, including where and when the alleged statement was made, the identities of those who supposedly made the offer, and witnesses who could verify the claim.
According to the presidential aide, the story bears all the characteristics of fake news deliberately crafted to mislead the public, fuel political tension and distort the country’s political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the report entirely and exercise caution before sharing sensational political stories, stressing the need to verify information from credible sources.
“The build-up to every election season often witnesses a surge in misinformation and fake attributions. Such reports should not be mistaken for verified facts,” the statement said.
Political observers note that as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum, the spread of unverified claims involving prominent political figures has become increasingly common.
Jonathan, whose name frequently features in conversations about Nigeria’s leadership, has repeatedly been linked with speculation over a possible political comeback.
His latest clarification, however, leaves no doubt that he neither received nor acknowledged any N500 billion offer to contest against Obi or any other presidential hopeful.
