Kwankwaso Sues Primate Ayodele Over ‘Defamatory’ Remarks, Demands N10 Billion Damages

FORMER Governor of Kano State and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has commenced legal proceedings against Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church over alleged defamatory statements made during a live-streamed church service.

In a demand letter dated June 11, 2026, which Kwankwaso shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, his legal team — Magaji Mato Ibrahim, SAN & Co. — demanded an immediate retraction and an unreserved apology from the cleric, warning that failure to comply would result in a lawsuit seeking substantial damages.

The dispute stems from a viral video recorded during a church service in which Primate Ayodele made allegations targeting Kwankwaso’s integrity in his capacity as running mate to Peter Obi under the NDC ticket. According to the demand letter, the cleric was quoted as stating:

“Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi, Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi” — among other libellous comments, while purportedly acting in the guise of a preacher.

Kwankwaso’s lawyers characterised the remarks as unprovoked, grossly unfounded, and deliberately calculated to sow discord within the ranks of the political party and among its supporters. They asserted that the statements were designed to damage the former governor’s reputation and undermine public confidence in his political integrity.

The legal team issued a strict 24-hour ultimatum demanding that Primate Ayodele publish a full and unequivocal retraction across all social media platforms and news outlets, with the same prominence as the original video. They also called for a written undertaking that the cleric would cease and desist from making any further malicious statements against their client.

The lawyers warned that non-compliance would leave them with no choice but to initiate legal proceedings, stating that they would seek “substantial damages to the tune of Ten Billion Naira and cost of the action on a full indemnity basis amongst other reliefs.”

As of press time, Primate Ayodele had not publicly responded to the demand letter. The INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has also not issued any official statement regarding the matter.

The development adds a new layer of tension to the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the NDC’s presidential ticket already facing scrutiny over internal cohesion. Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure in the North-West, has maintained that his partnership with Obi remains solid, dismissing the cleric’s claims as baseless.

Legal analysts note that defamation suits against religious figures in Nigeria often attract widespread public attention, and the outcome of this case could have significant implications for freedom of speech and political commentary in the country.