Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has accused ex-U.S. President Barack Obama of interfering in Nigeria’s 2015 general election, claiming he worked against his re-election bid.
In his memoir My Transition Hours, scheduled for public launch on Tuesday, Jonathan alleged that Obama displayed “an unusual level of bias” during the polls and crossed diplomatic boundaries by releasing a video message urging Nigerians to “open the next chapter” with their votes.
“Those who understood subliminal language knew he was asking Nigerians to vote for the opposition,” Jonathan wrote.
The former president described Obama’s address as “overbearing and condescending,” saying it suggested Nigerians were incapable of making their own democratic choices.
Jonathan also accused Obama’s administration of hypocrisy, claiming it urged Nigerians to vote freely while allegedly denying support to Nigerian security forces fighting Boko Haram at the time.
He further criticized then–U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for what he called a dismissive attitude toward his government, especially after Nigeria postponed the 2015 elections due to security challenges.
“How could they expect us to conduct elections when Boko Haram controlled parts of the North East and were killing innocent citizens?” Jonathan asked. “Not even assurances that power would be handed over on May 29 could calm them down.”
Jonathan lost the 2015 election to Muhammadu Buhari — marking the first time in Nigeria’s history that an incumbent president was defeated at the polls.
He said his book was kept under wraps to prevent leaks before its official release, adding that his decision to delay the election was in Nigeria’s best interest, not a ploy to extend his tenure.
The defeat ended the People’s Democratic Party’s 16-year rule and triggered years of internal crisis within the party.
Jonathan’s revelations have reignited debate over the extent of foreign influence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
