Jonathan denies report of N500bn offer to challenge Peter Obi in 2027

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false a report claiming he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election against the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, in a bid to split votes in the South-South region.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan described the report as “entirely false and baseless,” urging Nigerians to disregard what he called a fabricated publication.

According to Eze, the report falsely attributed a statement to the former president without providing any evidence of where or when the alleged claim was made, or identifying those involved in the purported 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,” the statement read.

Eze said the publication bore all the characteristics of fake news deliberately designed to mislead the public and drag Jonathan into unnecessary political controversy.

He noted that periods leading up to elections often witness an increase in misinformation and false claims involving prominent political figures.

The former presidential aide urged Nigerians to verify sensational political reports before sharing them, stressing that the story should be ignored in its entirety.

The report, which circulated widely on Facebook on Sunday, alleged that Jonathan claimed he rejected a N500 billion offer to contest against Obi, a former governor of Anambra State.

Meanwhile, speculation has continued in recent months over Jonathan’s possible return to presidential politics. Since May, reports have suggested he may contest the 2027 election under the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The speculation intensified on May 30 after the PDP faction announced Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election during a special national convention held at the party’s office in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

Although the faction said a date would be announced for the formal presentation of the party’s flag to Jonathan, the ceremony has yet to take place, with the July 11 deadline for submission of presidential nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) drawing closer.