Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has firmly denied reports alleging that he was offered ₦500 billion to enter the 2027 presidential race in a bid to challenge Peter Obi and split votes in Nigeria’s southern region.
In a statement released on Sunday, Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, described the report as “entirely false, baseless and fabricated”, dismissing it as another attempt to mislead the public and drag the former president into political speculation.
The report had alleged that Jonathan claimed unnamed political actors offered him ₦500 billion to contest the presidency against Obi under the banner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with the objective of dividing votes from the South-South geopolitical zone ahead of the next general election.
Rejecting the allegation in its entirety, Eze said Jonathan never made such a statement and was not involved in any discussion or arrangement of the sort.
“The report is entirely false and without any factual basis,” the statement said, urging Nigerians to disregard what it described as a fabricated publication designed to misinform the public.
Jonathan’s media office warned against the growing spread of misinformation and the attribution of false statements to public figures, stressing that such reports undermine responsible journalism and public trust.
The former president has largely maintained a low political profile since leaving office in 2015, despite recurring speculation over his possible return to active politics. He has repeatedly emphasised his commitment to promoting democracy, peace and good governance across Africa rather than engaging in partisan political contests.
The latest denial comes amid increasing political manoeuvring and speculation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with prominent political figures frequently linked to unverified reports about potential alliances and presidential ambitions.
