The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has threatened legal action against the founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, over comments he described as defamatory and damaging to his political reputation.
The former Kano State governor, through his legal representatives, Magaji Mato Ibrahim (SAN) & Co., warned that he could file a ₦10 billion lawsuit if the cleric fails to retract the statements and issue a public apology.
Controversial Comments Spark Legal Threat
According to a letter dated June 11, 2026, and made public by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, the politician’s legal team said their client became aware of a viral publication allegedly linked to Ayodele and widely circulated across social media platforms and online news outlets.
The lawyers claimed the cleric, during a sermon that was reportedly recorded and livestreamed, made comments suggesting that Kwankwaso was not genuinely committed to his political partnership with NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Ayodele was also alleged to have claimed that Kwankwaso had been financially motivated to accept the position of vice-presidential candidate.
The legal team argued that the remarks cast doubt on their client’s integrity, sincerity and credibility as a political leader.
Demand for Retraction and Apology
In the letter, Kwankwaso’s lawyers described the statements as false, malicious and without factual basis, insisting that they were capable of lowering his reputation in the eyes of members of the public.
They accused the cleric of portraying the former governor as dishonest, insincere and politically unreliable through the alleged comments.
As part of their demands, the lawyers requested that Ayodele publish a full retraction and an unreserved apology within 24 hours of receiving the notice.
They further insisted that the apology must be circulated on the same platforms where the original statements were allegedly published and given equal prominence.
₦10bn Suit Looms
Beyond the apology, the legal team also demanded a written commitment from the cleric that he would refrain from making or republishing any similar statements concerning Kwankwaso in the future.
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The lawyers warned that failure to comply with the demands would leave their client with no option but to seek redress through the courts.
According to the notice, Kwankwaso is prepared to pursue legal proceedings seeking damages of ₦10 billion, alongside the full cost of litigation and other reliefs the court may deem appropriate.
The development adds a fresh twist to political discourse surrounding the NDC ahead of the 2027 general election, with neither Ayodele nor his ministry issuing an official response to the allegations at the time of filing this report.