Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has declared that he would cast his vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition chooses Peter Obi as its presidential candidate.
Speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Adeyanju made his stance clear when asked about his criticism of Obi.
“God forbid that I support APC. If the opposition presents Peter Obi, I will vote for Tinubu”, he said.
Adeyanju’s comments come amid an ongoing feud with Obi that has escalated to legal threats.
Obi’s legal team recently issued a notice of intent to sue the activist over alleged defamatory statements made on social media and during interviews.
Adeyanju, however, dismissed the lawsuit, saying he was ready to face Obi in court.
The activist accused Obi of fostering a toxic political environment, pointing to the behavior of his supporters, popularly known as “Obidients,” on social media.
“We cannot have a man who leads a mob that terrorises people online and cannot tolerate criticism, who calls people all sorts of names”, Adeyanju stated.
“Anybody who cannot support their candidate is seen as an enemy of Nigeria or has been paid to do so. That is not democracy.”
Adeyanju also questioned Obi’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic growth, arguing that he has not made the sacrifices others have for the nation’s political survival.
“What sacrifices has he made for democracy? Many of us have put our lives on the line at great personal cost. We must sanitise our polity. We cannot have a country where people who terrorise others online dictate the tone of political discourse”, he added.
Reflecting on his voting history, Adeyanju claimed he has always supported candidates he considered credible.
“In my opinion, I have never voted for a bad candidate. In 1999, I voted for Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2011, I voted for Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, I voted for Jonathan again, against the so-called lovers of democracy who wanted Muhammadu Buhari”, he said.
Adeyanju’s remarks have reignited debates about Obi’s political influence and the behavior of his supporters, while also drawing attention to divisions within Nigeria’s opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.