Jonathan denies N500bn offer to contest against Peter Obi in 2027, calling the report false and urging Nigerians to ignore misinformation
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied claims that he was offered N500 billion to contest against National Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2027 general election, describing the report as false and misleading.
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The clarification was issued on Sunday, 5 July 2026, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Ikechukwu Eze, who said Jonathan never made any such statement and had no involvement in any arrangement linked to dividing votes in the South-South region.
According to Eze, the report circulating in sections of the media falsely alleged that the former president disclosed receiving a financial inducement to enter the presidential race against Obi.
He stressed that the claim lacked basic journalistic details, including when and where the alleged comment was made, as well as the identity of those involved.
The N500bn offer denial was described by the former president’s office as a necessary response to what it called a fabricated story designed to generate political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The report is completely false and baseless,” Eze said. “Jonathan was never involved in any discussion of a N500 billion offer to divide votes against Peter Obi in the 2027 general elections.”
He added that the publication bore the hallmarks of misinformation and urged Nigerians to be cautious about unverified political claims, particularly in the build-up to election periods when false narratives often circulate widely.
“The build-up to every election season often witnesses a surge in misinformation and fake attributions,” he said, warning that such reports should not be mistaken for verified facts.
Eze reiterated that Jonathan had not made any statement suggesting he was offered money to contest the presidency or undermine any candidate, calling for the complete disregard of the report.
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The denial comes amid growing political speculation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with heightened scrutiny of potential alliances, endorsements and possible returns of key political figures.
