Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports claiming he was offered ₦500 billion to contest in the 2027 presidential election as part of an alleged plot to split South-South votes and weaken the presidential bid of National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Peter Obi.
Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, described the claim as false and unfounded in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, urging Nigerians to disregard what he called a fabricated report.
According to Eze, the publication, which originated from what he described as a “little-known website,” falsely alleged that Jonathan claimed he had been offered the huge sum to enter the presidential race.
He said the report failed to provide any evidence to support the allegation, including where or when the former president supposedly made the statement or who allegedly made the offer.
“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 maintained that the story lacked the basic principles of credible journalism and bore all the characteristics of fake news deliberately created to mislead the public and drag Jonathan into unnecessary political controversy ahead of the 2027 general election.
Eze noted that as political activities begin to gather momentum, Nigerians should expect an increase in misinformation, fabricated reports and false attributions involving prominent political figures.
He, however, advised members of the public to verify sensational political claims before sharing them on social media or other platforms.
The presidential aide stressed that Jonathan had never made any statement suggesting he was offered money to contest the presidency or to influence the political fortunes of any candidate.
He urged Nigerians to ignore the report in its entirety, describing it as another attempt to spread falsehood and create needless political tension.