By Deborah Nnamdi
The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened legal action against the founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, over alleged defamatory statements made during a live-streamed sermon.
In a letter dated June 11, 2026, and made public on Wednesday by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Hon. Saifullahi Hassan, the former Kano State governor’s legal team accused the cleric of making false and malicious claims capable of damaging his reputation and political standing.
According to the lawyers, Ayodele had allegedly stated during the sermon that, “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi, Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi.”
Reacting to the remarks, the law firm of Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co. described the comments as defamatory, insisting they were intended to undermine Kwankwaso’s credibility, sincerity, and integrity as the running mate to Peter Obi under the NDC.
“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 political party,” the letter stated.
The lawyers further argued that the comments were “deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated,” alleging that they portrayed Kwankwaso as deceitful, insincere and untrustworthy in the eyes of the public.
They demanded an immediate retraction of the statement and a public apology within 24 hours, warning that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings seeking ₦10 billion in damages.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, ex-Minister of Defence, senator, and former presidential candidate, is currently the vice-presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 general election.
His camp maintained that the allegations were aimed at tarnishing his reputation and destabilising the party as political activities ahead of the election gathered momentum.
