Former President Goodluck Jonathan has firmly denied a media report alleging that he was offered N500 billion to contest against Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 general elections. The denial came through a statement issued by his special adviser on media, Ikechukwu Eze, on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
Allegations of Vote-Splitting Scheme
The report, published by Vanguard, claimed that Jonathan was offered the enormous sum to split votes from the south-south region, thereby undermining Obi's support base ahead of the 2027 polls. However, Jonathan's camp has dismissed the story as entirely false and lacking any credible evidence.
According to The Nation, Eze stated: "The report failed to state where or when Jonathan allegedly made such a claim, who was present or who purportedly made the alleged offer." He further described the publication as baseless and designed to drag the former president into unnecessary political controversy.
Misinformation Ahead of Elections
Eze acknowledged that the approach of a political season often brings a surge in misinformation and falsehoods. He urged Nigerians to disregard the report in its entirety and to verify sensational claims before sharing them. The statement emphasized that Jonathan remains focused on his commitments and has no intention of engaging in such divisive tactics.
In a related development, a Facebook page called Nwa Ebonyi TV circulated a video claiming that Jonathan had endorsed Obi's 2027 presidential bid. The post gained traction due to the political significance of a potential endorsement from the former president, who hails from the same southern region as Obi. However, fact-checking revealed that the video was not recent but rather old footage from December 24, 2022, repackaged with new graphics and captions to appear current.
Court Dismisses Suit Against Jonathan
Meanwhile, Justice Peter Lifu of the federal high court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, which sought to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The judge ruled that Jideobi lacked the legal standing to bring the suit, as he had not suffered any loss from Jonathan's alleged intention to run. Justice Lifu also awarded a N20 million fine against Jideobi in favor of Jonathan and an additional N1 million fine in favor of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The court's decision underscores the baselessness of attempts to legally bar Jonathan from participating in future elections. It also highlights the importance of due process and legal merit in such cases.
Political Reactions and Context
The denial comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 elections. Peter Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in 2023, has been positioning himself for another bid, and discussions about potential alliances and endorsements have been rife. Jonathan, a former president from 2010 to 2015, has remained a respected figure in Nigerian politics, and his stance on the 2027 race has been closely watched.
In other political news, Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, recently criticized Obi for stating his commitment to serving only one term if elected, drawing comparisons to historical leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. Onanuga described such references as "wrong," adding to the ongoing political discourse.
The Jonathan camp's swift response to the N500 billion allegation reflects a broader effort to counter misinformation as the election season approaches. With the 2027 polls still over a year away, such fabrications are likely to persist, making fact-checking and critical evaluation of news sources essential for the public.
