Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted rumors suggesting he has withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race.
The denial comes after reports surfaced claiming Jonathan had decided against running to maintain Southern unity.
Though Jonathan has not formally announced his candidacy, sources indicate he has already begun consultations in preparation for a potential second term.
The latest twist in the story came on Friday when his cousin, Azibaola Robert, took to his verified Facebook page to dismiss the claim that Jonathan had stepped aside from the race.
Azibaola debunked an article from Newsweek Nigeria that was headlined, “Jonathan Rejects Pressure to Contest in 2027, Says He Won’t Be Used Against Southern Unity.”
He branded the report as false and urged Nigerians to ignore it.
He further clarified that the unnamed “aide” cited in the article as the source of the information did not exist.
While Jonathan has not made an official declaration regarding his candidacy, Azibaola emphasized that the former president has neither confirmed nor ruled out his intention to run.
He also stated that Jonathan would not give in to pressure from those advising him against contesting, attributing their stance to “selfish motives” without offering specifics on what those motives might be.
