A fact check has confirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan did not endorse Peter Obi, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, for the 2027 presidential elections. The endorsement claim stemmed from old footage repackaged to mislead the Nigerian public ahead of the 2027 elections. A recent meeting between ex-President Jonathan and Obi was merely a consultation, not an endorsement.
Background of the False Claim
A Facebook page called Nwa Ebonyi TV shared a video claiming that Jonathan was backing Obi's 2027 presidential bid. The post spread quickly because it made political sense to many people. Jonathan and Obi are both from the south and widely respected within opposition circles. The idea of a Jonathan endorsement ahead of 2027 was politically significant enough that many internet users quickly assumed it was real. Similar posts were also seen on other Facebook pages.
Verification of the Video
Our investigation found that the video being circulated as proof of the alleged endorsement is not recent. It is old footage from December 24, 2022, that has been repackaged with new graphics and 2027-era captions to make it appear like a current political statement. The actual video context was traced further.
On April 27, 2026, Obi visited Jonathan at his Abuja residence for a closed-door consultation meeting. The visit was part of ongoing political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections and was widely reported by major media outlets. A popular page on X, ADC Vanguard, posted it as well and described it as a high-level engagement, suggesting discussions around presenting a single opposition presidential candidate for 2027. That framing was faulty.
Clarification from Obi's Ally
Yunusa Tanko, the national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, came out to clarify that the meeting was just a consultation and there are no talks of endorsement currently. A consultation is not an endorsement. At the same time this endorsement claim was spreading, Jonathan was separately addressing political stakeholders in Abuja who urged him to run for the presidency in 2027. He told them he would consult widely before making a decision to run or not.
So the Bayelsa-born former Nigerian leader, whom people claimed had endorsed another candidate's presidential bid, may end up contesting the election himself. Jonathan has not officially declared any interest in the 2027 presidential race, but he has not ruled it out either.
Verdict
As of Friday, May 22, 2026, Jonathan did not endorse Obi for the 2027 election. The video being circulated as proof is from 2022, when the meeting was a mere visit, not an endorsement. This fact check confirms that claims of Jonathan's endorsement are misleading.
