Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports alleging that he was offered ₦500 billion to contest against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in an attempt to divide votes in the South-South region.

The former Nigerian leader described the allegation as entirely false, insisting that he had no involvement in the claim circulating online.

Reacting through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said the publication was fabricated and designed to draw him into unnecessary political controversy as activities ahead of future elections continue to gather pace.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Eze urged Nigerians to ignore the report, which he said originated from an obscure website and falsely attributed the allegation to the former president.

According to him, the publication failed to meet the minimum standards of responsible journalism and contained no credible evidence to support its claims.

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Eze questioned the credibility of the report, noting that it failed to indicate where or when Jonathan allegedly made the statement or identify those who were supposedly involved in the alleged 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.

He maintained that the publication displayed the characteristics of fake news deliberately created to misinform the public and generate unnecessary political tension.

The former president’s spokesman stressed that Jonathan never made the statement attributed to him and should not be linked to what he described as a completely fabricated narrative.

Eze further observed that the spread of misinformation and false attributions has become increasingly common as political activities intensify ahead of future elections.

He therefore advised Nigerians to verify sensational political claims through credible sources before sharing them, warning that the circulation of false information could undermine public trust and fuel avoidable controversies.

Jonathan has largely maintained a non-partisan public posture since leaving office in 2015, frequently calling for peaceful elections, democratic governance and national unity while avoiding direct involvement in partisan political disputes.