The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened to institute a N10bn defamation suit against the founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Elijah Ayodele, over alleged remarks linking him to a plot to betray the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, issued the threat through his legal representatives, Magaji Mato Ibrahim (SAN) & Co., in a letter demanding an immediate retraction and public apology from the cleric within 24 hours.
The lawyers described the alleged comments as “false, malicious and defamatory,” accusing Ayodele of portraying their client as politically insincere and untrustworthy.
According to the letter dated June 11, 2026, the cleric, during a sermon reportedly broadcast on social media, was said to have described Kwankwaso as “a fake to Obi” and alleged that he would betray the presidential candidate after being “paid” to serve as running mate.
The legal team maintained that the statements were “deliberate, premeditated, unprovoked and grossly unfounded,” adding that they had gained traction across social and mainstream media, thereby damaging Kwankwaso’s reputation.
They argued that the publication was capable of lowering the former minister’s standing in the eyes of right-thinking members of society and undermining his credibility and political integrity.
“Our client’s attention has been drawn to your viral publication… wherein you published malicious and defamatory contents against him geared toward tarnishing his long-earned reputation in Nigeria and beyond,” the letter partly read.
The lawyers further demanded that Ayodele publish a “full, direct and unequivocal retraction” on all platforms where the statements were circulated, with the same prominence as the original claims.
They also requested a written undertaking from the cleric to desist from making or republishing any defamatory statements against Kwankwaso.
Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe, the legal team warned, would leave them with no option but to commence legal proceedings to seek damages amounting to N10bn.
The development comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the next general elections, with tensions rising among key actors within emerging political coalitions.
FOLLOW US
FOR MORE HERE
