Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false a report alleging that he was offered ₦500 billion to contest against the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, in a bid to split votes in the South-South region.
The denial was conveyed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, who described the publication as completely fabricated, baseless, and intended to mislead the public.
According to Eze, the report, published by what he described as a little-known website, falsely attributed comments to the former president, claiming he had revealed receiving a ₦500 billion offer to enter the presidential race against Obi.
He stated that the publication lacked every basic requirement of credible journalism, noting that it failed to provide essential details such as where or when Jonathan allegedly made the statement, who was present during the supposed conversation, or the identity of the individual or group said to have made the offer.
Eze said the report bore all the characteristics of fake news deliberately created to stir political controversy and drag the former president into unnecessary public debate.
He urged Nigerians to disregard the publication in its entirety, stressing that Jonathan never made such a statement and had no involvement in the claims circulating online.
The media aide further cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified information, particularly as political activities begin to intensify ahead of future elections.
He emphasized the need for citizens to verify sensational reports through credible sources before sharing them, warning that the increasing circulation of misinformation poses a threat to responsible public discourse.
Jonathan’s media office reaffirmed the former president’s commitment to truth and responsible national engagement, urging the public to ignore fabricated stories aimed at creating confusion and unnecessary political tension.
Jonathan Denies Claim of ₦500bn Offer to Contest Against Peter Obi, Labels Report Fake
