The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit against the founder and spiritual leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, over alleged defamatory remarks.
Kwankwaso, through his lawyers, Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co., accused the cleric of making false, malicious and damaging statements capable of injuring his reputation and political standing.
In a letter dated June 11, 2026, and made public by Saifullahi Hassan, media aide to the former Kano State governor, the legal team said their client’s attention had been drawn to a viral publication allegedly made by Ayodele and circulated across social media platforms and various local and international media outlets
According to the lawyers, Ayodele, while addressing his congregation during a sermon that was reportedly recorded and livestreamed, made comments questioning Kwankwaso’s loyalty to the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The cleric was alleged to have stated:
“Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi. Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi.”
The lawyers argued that the remarks directly attacked their client’s credibility, sincerity and political integrity.
“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 (NDC),” the letter stated.
They described the comments as “deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated,” adding that they portrayed Kwankwaso to members of the public as “deceitful, insincere and hypocritical.”
According to the solicitors, the alleged publication was intended to tarnish Kwankwaso’s reputation and create division among supporters and members of the NDC.
Consequently, the legal team demanded that Ayodele issue a full retraction and public apology within 24 hours.
They also requested that the cleric publish the retraction and apology on all social media platforms and reputable local and international news outlets with the same prominence given to the original publication.
The lawyers further demanded a written undertaking from Ayodele, assuring that he would refrain from publishing or republishing any defamatory content against their client in the future.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands would leave Kwankwaso with no option but to seek legal redress.
“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 commence appropriate legal proceedings against you without further recourse,” the lawyers stated.
They added that the suit would seek damages amounting to N10 billion, alongside the cost of litigation and other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court.
The development comes amid increasing political realignments and heightened activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
