Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports claiming he was offered N500 billion to contest the 2027 presidential election in a bid to divide votes in the South-South.

Jonathan made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Ikechukwu Eze, describing the report as false, baseless and a deliberate attempt to drag him into unnecessary political controversy.

Eze said the publication falsely alleged that Jonathan disclosed receiving an offer of N500 billion to challenge the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2027 election.

He noted that the report failed to provide key details expected of a credible publication, including when and where the alleged statement was made, the identity of those who supposedly made the offer, or any witnesses to substantiate the claim.

According to him, the story bears all the hallmarks of fabricated news intended to mislead the public and create political tension ahead of the 2027 general election.

“Jonathan was never involved in the alleged N500 billion offer to divide the South’s votes against Peter Obi in the 2027 general elections.

“Nigerians should disregard the report entirely and exercise caution by verifying sensational political claims before circulating them.

“The build-up to every election season often witnesses a surge in misinformation and fake attributions. Such reports should not be mistaken for verified facts.

“Jonathan has not made any statement suggesting he was offered money to contest the presidency or undermine any candidate,” Eze said.

The former president urged the public to verify politically sensitive information before sharing it, warning against the spread of misinformation ahead of the 2027 polls.