Kwankwaso vows to take Primate Ayodele to court with N10bn defamation claim

n n

Vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has threatened legal action against the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, over alleged defamatory comments made against him.

n

The threat was contained in a letter dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Magaji Ibrahim (SAN) of Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co., acting on behalf of the former Kano State governor.

n

The letter was shared by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, on Wednesday.

n

According to the letter, Kwankwaso’s legal team accused the cleric of making false, malicious and defamatory statements during a sermon that was recorded and widely circulated on social media and in the news media.

n

Ayodele was quoted as saying, “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi. Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi.”

n

The lawyers stated that the comments portrayed Kwankwaso as “deviant, hypocritical, deceitful and insincere” and were aimed at damaging his reputation and creating division within the NDC and among its supporters.

n

“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 read.

n

It further alleged that the statements directly attacked Kwankwaso’s credibility, sincerity and political integrity as the NDC vice-presidential candidate.

n

The legal team demanded that Ayodele issue a full retraction and apology within 24 hours on all platforms where the remarks were published and ensure the apology received the same prominence as the original statements.

n

Kwankwaso’s lawyers also requested a written undertaking that the cleric would refrain from publishing any further defamatory content against their client.

n

The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands would result in legal proceedings seeking N10 billion in damages and the cost of litigation.

n

“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 N10bn and cost of the action on a full indemnity basis amongst other reliefs,” the letter stated.

n

PUNCH Online gathered that the remarks were made in early June 2026 while Ayodele was addressing a congregation at his church.

n

The message was also reportedly communicated in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, wherein Ayodele warned Obi that Kwankwaso would negatively affect his presidential ambition.

n

“Peter Obi doesn’t listen to divine instructions, and because of this, he has fallen into the wrong hands for his ambition.

n

“Kwankwaso isn’t ready to fight for him; he will eventually sell him out, but he doesn’t know it yet. He has already muddled Obi’s presidential ambition.

n

“Kwankwaso is doing everything for his personal interest and nothing more. I wish Obi’s eyes could be opened to what is happening around him, but he can’t see it. I don’t hate Peter Obi; I love him and his courage, but he is not yet mature for the position he is seeking.

n

“However, Kwankwaso’s plans will soon be exposed, but it will be too late for Peter Obi because he has gone very deep into it,” the cleric reportedly said.

n

Ayodele has yet to respond to Kwankwaso’s letter as of the time of filing this report.

n n