A fresh legal battle may be brewing between the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, and prominent cleric, Primate Babatunde Ayodele, following alleged defamatory remarks made by the church leader.
Kwankwaso has threatened to sue Ayodele for N10 billion unless he retracts statements alleging that the former Kano State governor is not genuinely loyal to the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and was financially induced to accept the position of running mate.
The threat was conveyed in a pre-action letter dated June 11 and signed by senior lawyer, Magaji Mato (SAN), on behalf of Kwankwaso.
The letter, which was shared by Kwankwaso's media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, accused the cleric of making false, malicious and damaging claims during a sermon delivered before a congregation in Lagos and broadcast to a wider audience through digital platforms.
According to the legal notice, Ayodele allegedly described Kwankwaso as a “fake” supporter of Obi and predicted that he would eventually betray the NDC flag bearer. He was also said to have claimed that Kwankwaso accepted the vice-presidential nomination in exchange for payment.
Kwankwaso's legal team argued that the statements were reckless, unsubstantiated and calculated to tarnish the politician's image and weaken public confidence in his integrity.
The letter stressed that the comments struck at the heart of Kwankwaso's political reputation, portraying him as deceitful, unprincipled and lacking sincerity in his alliance with Obi and the NDC.
It further noted that the former governor has occupied several high-profile public offices, including Governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator and presidential candidate, making his reputation a valuable asset built over decades of public service.
The lawyers contended that the alleged publication had gained widespread circulation on social media and in news reports, exposing their client to public ridicule and potentially causing political damage.
They also accused the cleric of attempting to create mistrust within the NDC and undermine confidence among party members and supporters.
As part of the demands, Kwankwaso is seeking a public apology and a complete retraction of the statements within 24 hours. The apology, according to the letter, must be published across all platforms where the comments appeared and be given equal prominence.
He also wants Ayodele to provide a written commitment that he will refrain from making similar statements against him in the future.
The legal notice warned that failure to comply would trigger a lawsuit seeking N10 billion in damages, alongside legal costs and other remedies available under the law.
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