Jonathan Refutes Claim of ₦500bn Offer to Split South-South Votes Ahead of 2027 Election

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed a media report alleging that he was offered ₦500 billion to contest against the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi, in order to split votes in the South-South ahead of the 2027 general election.

The denial was issued in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, who described the report as entirely false, baseless and lacking any credible foundation.

Eze said Jonathan did not make any such claim and did not receive or discuss any offer of the nature reported, stressing that the publication was a fabrication designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary political tension.

According to him, the report failed to provide basic details expected in credible journalism, including where and when the alleged statement was made, or who was 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.

The former president’s media aide said the publication bore all the hallmarks of fake news, noting that it appeared deliberately crafted to drag Jonathan into political controversy ahead of the 2027 elections.

He acknowledged that the political season often comes with a rise in misinformation and false attributions, but urged Nigerians to critically verify sensational claims before sharing them.

Eze maintained that Jonathan should not be associated with any narrative suggesting inducement or political manipulation, reiterating that the former president remains committed to democratic principles and national unity.

He therefore called on the public to disregard the report in its entirety, warning against the spread of unverified political stories that could mislead citizens and distort public discourse as the election season approaches.