Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit against Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, over alleged defamatory remarks the cleric made during a live-streamed church service. Kwankwaso, through his lawyers, Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co., accused the cleric of making false, malicious and derogatory statements capable of damaging his reputation and political integrity, specifically alleging that Ayodele declared to his congregation that Kwankwaso was "fake" to the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would betray him, and had been financially induced to become his running mate.
The legal battle, which has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's political landscape, stems from a viral video of a sermon Ayodele delivered to his congregation, which was subsequently circulated on social media and picked up by local and international news outlets. In the letter dated June 11, 2026, which was made public on Wednesday by Kwankwaso's media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, the legal team detailed the cleric's alleged remarks. "In the said publication, while addressing a physical congregation and being video recorded deliberately to your knowledge and televised on a live stream to an unquantifiable audience, you expressly and without cause stated amongst other things as follows; 'KWANKWASO IS A FAKE TO OBI, KWANKWASO WILL BETRAY YOU. KWANKWASO HAS BEEN PAID TO BE VICE PRESIDENT TO OBI AMONG OTHER LIBELOUS COMMENTS WHILE PRETENDING TO BE A PREACHER,'" the letter read.
Kwankwaso's lawyers argued that the statements directly attacked their client's credibility, sincerity of purpose, and political integrity as the vice-presidential candidate and running mate to Peter Obi under the NDC platform. They described the remarks as "deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated," adding that they were carefully designed to portray Kwankwaso to right-thinking members of society as "deviant, hypocritic, deceitful and insincere." The legal team further contended that the intended messages were crafted to gravely damage the reputation Kwankwaso had painstakingly built over decades of public service and to create a rift within the ranks of NDC members and their supporters.
In the demand letter, Kwankwaso's lawyers gave Primate Ayodele a 24-hour ultimatum to issue a full, direct, and unequivocal retraction of the alleged defamatory statements and publish an apology on all social media platforms and reputable local and international news outlets, ensuring that the retraction and apology received the same visibility and prominence as the original publication. The cleric was also required to provide a written undertaking that he would cease and desist from publishing or republishing any defamatory or malicious content against Kwankwaso through any medium. "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 lawyers warned.
The letter also highlighted Kwankwaso's extensive political career, describing him as a public national and international figure, having served as Governor of Kano State for two terms, Minister of Defence, Member and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, a distinguished Senator, a former Presidential Candidate, and currently the Vice-presidential Candidate of the NDC. "For decades, His Excellency Sen. Kwankwaso PhD, FNSE, has stood as a steadfast advocate for ordinary Nigerians, distinguished by his principles, courage, and dedication to public service," the letter read. "Recent attempts to undermine that legacy through false and misleading allegations have been met with a clear and formal legal response. The public influence must be exercised with responsibility and truth must remain our guide."
The threat of legal action has drawn reactions from various quarters, including the OK Movement, a support group for the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The group condemned Ayodele's remarks and backed Kwankwaso's stance. In a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, the OK Movement demanded a retraction and apology for the defamatory contents and comments against Kwankwaso. "Public statements must be rooted in facts and civility. Truth, accountability and responsibility for public engagement remains essential to strengthening our nation, culture and civilization," the group said.
The controversy adds another layer to the already complex political dynamics surrounding the NDC's presidential ticket for the 2027 elections. The party, which has positioned itself as a formidable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been working to consolidate its support base across the country. The allegations made by Ayodele, if left unaddressed, could potentially undermine the unity and cohesion of the party's supporters, particularly given the widespread influence of the cleric's prophecies among his followers.
As of the time of this report, Primate Ayodele had not publicly responded to the letter from Kwankwaso's lawyers. The development has added another twist to the political conversation around Obi and Kwankwaso, following the cleric's earlier claims that the former Kano governor would eventually betray Obi. The coming days will reveal whether the cleric will comply with the demands or face the prospect of a protracted legal battle that could have significant implications for both his ministry and the political landscape. For now, the ball is in Primate Ayodele's court, and the clock is ticking.
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