Former President Goodluck Jonathan has disassociated himself from a viral Instagram post suggesting his potential return to presidential politics in 2027.
The controversial post, shared from an account bearing Jonathan’s name, criticized Nigeria’s current leadership while hinting at a political comeback.
“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,” read the post, which featured an AI-generated image of Jonathan shaking hands with former United President Donald Trump. The post gained significant traction, amassing over 16,000 views and 1,261 comments before being flagged as unauthorized.
Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, categorically denied the post’s authenticity when contacted by TheCable on Friday. “Former President Jonathan does not own an Instagram account,” Eze stated, confirming the account was impersonating the ex-president.
This incident mirrors previous instances where Jonathan had to clarify his political stance. During the 2023 election cycle, he similarly rejected a presidential nomination form purchased on his behalf by an APC support group without his knowledge or consent. At the time, his media team issued a statement clarifying: “He was not aware of this bid and did not authorise it.”
The latest episode underscores the growing challenge of political misinformation through social media impersonation, particularly involving high-profile figures.
Jonathan, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, has maintained a relatively low political profile since leaving office, focusing instead on international peacekeeping roles through his foundation.
