Goodluck Jonathan alleges Obama plotted his 2015 election defeat

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has accused former US President Barack Obama of influencing his loss in the 2015 presidential election.

Jonathan made the claim in his upcoming book, My Transition Hours, set for release on November 4, 2025. He alleges that Obama displayed unusual bias during the election and was overbearing in his message to Nigerians ahead of voting.

“On March 23, 2015, President Obama took the unusual step of releasing a message to Nigerians ahead of the general election, urging them to open the next chapter by their votes,” Jonathan wrote.

Jonathan ultimately lost to former military President Muhammadu Buhari, who secured over 15 million votes in the March 28, 2015 election.

Buhari’s win marked the first time an opposition candidate had claimed Nigeria’s presidency.

Buhari later handed over power to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023, and passed away on July 13, 2025, after a prolonged illness.