Kwankwaso Threatens N10bn Lawsuit Against Primate Ayodele Over ‘Plot To Betray’ Peter Obi

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened legal action against Primate Elijah Ayodele over alleged defamatory comments linking him to a plot to betray the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Kwankwaso, through his lawyers, Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co., issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, demanding an immediate retraction and public apology over remarks allegedly made during a church service and broadcast on social media platforms.

The legal team accused the cleric of publishing “false, malicious and defamatory” statements that portrayed Kwankwaso as politically insincere and untrustworthy, warning that failure to retract the comments would result in a N10 billion lawsuit.

According to the demand letter dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Magaji Mato Ibrahim, for the law firm, a copy obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the comments have gained widespread circulation across social media and news platforms, allegedly causing reputational damage to the former governor.

Titled: “Re: Publication of false, malicious and derogatory post against his excellency, Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso; demand for immediate retraction and apology,” the lawyers stated that their client, whom they described as a prominent national and international political figure, had served as Governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator and presidential candidate before emerging as the running mate to Peter Obi under the NDC.

The letter alleged that during a sermon delivered before a congregation and broadcast to a large audience, Primate Ayodele claimed that “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi,” and further alleged that the NDC vice-presidential candidate “will betray” Obi and had been “paid to be vice president to Obi.”

According to the legal team, the statements were “deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated.”

They argued that the remarks directly attacked Kwankwaso’s “credibility, sincerity of purpose and political integrity” and were capable of lowering him in the estimation of right-thinking members of society.

They further claimed that the publication was carefully designed to damage the politician’s reputation and create division within the ranks of the NDC and among its supporters.

“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 practitioners demanded that Ayodele publish “a full, direct and unequivocal retraction” and apology across all platforms where the alleged comments were circulated, ensuring that the apology receives the same level of prominence as the original publication.

They also requested a written undertaking from the cleric, committing him to refrain from publishing or republishing any allegedly defamatory statements concerning Kwankwaso in the future.

“That you immediately within twenty-four (24) hours publish a full, direct and unequivocal retraction of and apology for the false, malicious and defamatory publication against our Client, on all social media platforms and reputable local and international news outlets, while ensuring that the retraction and apology is given the same visibility and prominence as your defamatory publication.

“You provide a written undertaking that henceforth, you will cease and desist from publishing or republishing any defamatory or malicious content against our Client through any medium and on any platform whatsoever.

“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,” the letter read.

The letter concluded with a warning to the cleric, stating: “A stitch in time saves nine! You have been warned.”