Former President Goodluck Jonathan has firmly denied any involvement in a viral Instagram post suggesting he plans to return to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The post, shared on an Instagram account bearing Jonathan’s name, took a swipe at current Nigerian leaders, accusing them of “pretending to sleep” and urging Nigerians to make better choices at the next polls.
Accompanied by background music and what appears to be an AI-generated image of Jonathan shaking hands with U.S. President Donald Trump, the post read:
“Since our current leaders are pretending to sleep, we pray that we will get our good leadership back in 2027; your choice will determine the betterment of our future.”
With over 16,000 views and more than 1,200 comments, the post quickly gained traction on social media.
However, Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, dismissed the post as false, stating that the former president does not own or operate an Instagram account. Speaking to TheCable on Friday, Eze said:
“Former President Jonathan does not own an Instagram account.”
This is not the first time Jonathan has had to disown political initiatives or endorsements made in his name.
During the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, he rejected a presidential nomination form allegedly purchased for him by a support group under the All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting through his media office that:
“He was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it.”
What you should know
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has no official Instagram account and has denied any intentions of contesting the 2027 presidential election.
His media team has consistently distanced him from unauthorised political activity or social media content suggesting a return to frontline politics.
