The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened to institute a ₦10 billion defamation lawsuit against the founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, over comments allegedly suggesting that he could betray the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Kwankwaso’s legal team, Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co., issued a formal demand letter to the cleric, accusing him of making and disseminating false, malicious, and defamatory statements that allegedly cast doubt on the former Kano State governor’s integrity, loyalty, and political credibility.
The lawyers, acting on Kwankwaso’s instructions, gave Primate Ayodele a 24-hour ultimatum to retract the statements and publish an unreserved apology across all platforms where the comments were circulated. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in legal proceedings seeking substantial damages amounting to ₦10 billion.
The demand letter, dated June 11, 2026, was signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Magaji Mato Ibrahim, who described the alleged remarks as reckless, unfounded, and calculated to tarnish the reputation of the NDC vice-presidential candidate.
According to the legal team, the controversial comments were made by Primate Ayodele during a church service and subsequently circulated widely through social media platforms and various local and international media outlets, attracting significant public attention.
The lawyers alleged that during the sermon, the cleric made statements suggesting that Kwankwaso was not genuinely committed to Peter Obi and that he had ulterior motives regarding his role in the party.
Among the statements cited in the legal correspondence were claims allegedly made by the cleric that, “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi,” “Kwankwaso will betray you,” and “Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi.”
According to Kwankwaso’s lawyers, these assertions are entirely false and have no factual basis. They argued that the comments were capable of causing serious reputational damage, particularly given the widespread publicity they received.
“Our Client’s attention has been drawn to your viral publication which is trending on all social media platforms and in international and local news outlets, wherein you published malicious and defamatory contents against him geared toward tarnishing his long-earned reputation in Nigeria and beyond,” the letter stated.
The legal representatives contended that the statements directly referred to Kwankwaso and questioned his sincerity, trustworthiness, and commitment to the NDC presidential ticket.
They argued that the comments were particularly damaging because they sought to portray the vice-presidential candidate as deceitful and politically unreliable at a critical stage in the party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
“The publication directly and unequivocally refers to our Client and attacks his credibility, sincerity of purpose and political integrity as the Vice-Presidential Candidate and running mate to Peter Obi under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) political party,” the lawyers stated.
According to the legal team, the statements were not only defamatory but were also allegedly crafted to undermine public confidence in Kwankwaso and create suspicion among party members and supporters.
They maintained that the remarks falsely portrayed the former governor as someone acting in bad faith and pursuing hidden interests contrary to the objectives of the party and its presidential candidate.
The letter further described the statements as deliberate and premeditated attempts to damage Kwankwaso’s image before members of the public.
“Your assertions which are deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated meant and negatively portray our Client to right-thinking members of society as deviant, hypocritical, deceitful and insincere,” the lawyers wrote.
The legal team argued that Kwankwaso has spent decades building a reputation as a public servant, political leader, and advocate of democratic governance, and that the allegations made by the cleric threaten to undermine that legacy.
According to them, the comments were designed not only to damage Kwankwaso’s personal reputation but also to sow discord within the NDC and weaken the confidence of supporters in the party’s leadership.
“The intended messages in your publication are carefully designed and curated to gravely damage the sparkling reputation which our Client has painstakingly built over the years and to create a rift within the ranks of the members of NDC and their teeming supporters alike,” the letter stated.
The controversy has generated considerable attention within political circles, particularly because it touches on issues of trust, party unity, and loyalty within the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Observers note that relationships between presidential candidates and their running mates are often closely scrutinized during election cycles, making allegations of disloyalty potentially damaging to political campaigns.
In response to the alleged defamatory statements, Kwankwaso’s legal representatives outlined a series of demands that they expect Primate Ayodele to fulfill within the stipulated 24-hour period.
Among these demands is the publication of a full, direct, and unequivocal retraction of all statements concerning Kwankwaso. The lawyers also insist that the cleric issue a public apology that acknowledges the alleged falsehood of the claims and clears the record regarding the vice-presidential candidate’s loyalty and integrity.
The apology, according to the letter, must be disseminated through the same channels that amplified the original comments, including social media platforms and reputable local and international media outlets.
In addition, the legal team demanded a written undertaking from Primate Ayodele pledging to refrain from making, publishing, or republishing any similar statements about Kwankwaso in the future.
The lawyers argued that such a commitment is necessary to prevent further reputational damage and to ensure that similar allegations do not resurface.
They emphasized that the demands represent a reasonable opportunity for the cleric to correct the situation before formal legal proceedings commence.
However, the letter made it clear that failure to comply would leave Kwankwaso with no alternative but to seek judicial intervention.
“Take Notice that if you neglect, fail or refuse to accede to our reasonable demands within the stipulated time frame, we have our Client’s unflinching instruction to take out appropriate legal proceedings against you without further recourse to you, wherein we shall claim substantial damages to the tune of Ten Billion Naira and cost of the action on a full indemnity basis amongst other reliefs,” the letter warned.
The threatened lawsuit, if eventually filed, would rank among the most significant defamation cases involving prominent political figures in recent years. It also underscores the growing tensions that often arise between political actors and influential public commentators, especially during periods of heightened political activity.
As of the time of reporting, Primate Elijah Ayodele had not publicly responded to the allegations or the legal demands issued by Kwankwaso’s lawyers. Political observers and supporters of both figures are closely monitoring developments, as the dispute could have wider implications for political discourse and public commentary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
