Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are maintaining a studied silence after the politician’s threat to institute a ₦10 billion defamation suit against him, and a push-back from the prophet over alleged defamatory remarks linking Kwankwaso to betrayal and political inducement.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, issued the threat through his lawyers, Magaji Mato Ibrahim (SAN) & Co., demanding that the cleric, the Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, directing him to publish an immediate retraction and apology within 24 hours or face legal action.
Primate Ayodele rejected the allegation that he defamed the former Kano governor, insisting that his comments were prophetic declarations rather than personal attacks. The cleric said he holds Kwankwaso in high regard and would defend his position if legal proceedings are eventually initiated.
The pre-action letter, dated June 11, 2026, was made public by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Hon. Saifullahi Hassan, after it was reportedly served on the cleric.
According to the legal notice, Primate Ayodele made the alleged comments during a sermon that was livestreamed and later circulated widely across social media platforms and news outlets.
The lawyers accused the cleric of publishing “false, malicious and defamatory” statements designed to damage Kwankwaso’s reputation, credibility and political standing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Specifically, the cleric was alleged to have described Kwankwaso as “fake to Obi,” claimed that he would eventually betray the NDC presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and further alleged that the former Kano governor had been financially induced to accept the vice-presidential nomination.
The legal team argued that the statements directly questioned their client’s integrity and sincerity of purpose as the NDC vice-presidential candidate.
“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.
Defending Kwankwaso’s public record, the lawyers noted that he had spent more than three decades in public service, serving in various capacities, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minister of Defence, two-term Governor of Kano State, Senator, presidential candidate and now vice-presidential candidate.
According to the legal team, the publication portrayed Kwankwaso as deceitful, hypocritical, politically unreliable and lacking sincerity, thereby exposing him to public ridicule while also creating the impression of disunity within the NDC leadership.
The lawyers maintained that the allegations were “deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated,” insisting that they were capable of causing significant reputational damage both within Nigeria and internationally.
Among the demands contained in the notice, Kwankwaso’s legal representatives asked Primate Ayodele to publish a full, direct and unequivocal retraction and apology on all platforms where the alleged statements were disseminated, ensuring that the apology enjoys the same prominence and visibility as the original publication.
They also demanded a written undertaking from the cleric that he would refrain from making or republishing similar statements against their client in the future.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated 24-hour period would leave Kwankwaso with no option but to commence legal proceedings seeking ₦10 billion in general damages, legal costs on a full indemnity basis and other reliefs the court may deem appropriate.
The dispute marks one of the earliest high-profile legal confrontations involving leading political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, underscoring growing tensions as parties intensify campaigns and public commentary surrounding the emerging presidential contest.