By Opeyemi Adelakun
Former President Goodluck Jonathanhas dismissed reports alleging that he was offered ₦500 billion to contest against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2027 election to divide votes in the South-South region.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, described the publication as completely false, baseless and a deliberate attempt to drag the former president into needless political controversy.
Eze said the report, which was published by what he described as an obscure online platform, falsely claimed Jonathan disclosed receiving an offer of ₦500 billion to challenge Obi in the presidential race.
He noted that the publication failed to provide basic details expected of a credible report, including when and where the alleged statement was made, the identity of those who supposedly made the offer, or any witnesses to support the claim.
According to him, the story bore all the characteristics of fabricated news designed to mislead the public and create unnecessary political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the report entirely and exercise caution by verifying sensational political claims before circulating them.
Eze added that the build-up to every election season often witnesses a surge in misinformation and fake attributions, warning that such reports should not be mistaken for verified facts.
The former president’s media aide reiterated that Jonathan had not made any statement suggesting he was offered money to contest the presidency or undermine any candidate.
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