Ex-Kano gov Kwankwaso issues 24-hour ultimatum to Primate Ayodele

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened to file a N10 billion defamation suit against the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, over comments that he would betray Peter Obi.

Kwankwaso, who is said to be the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, issued the threat through his lawyers, Magaji Mato Ibrahim, SAN & Co.

In a demand letter dated June 11, 2026, Kwankwaso’s legal team gave the cleric 24 hours to retract the comments and publish an apology.

The letter followed a viral video from a live-streamed church service in which Ayodele allegedly questioned Kwankwaso’s loyalty to Obi.

The lawyers quoted the cleric as saying: “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi, Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi,” among other alleged defamatory remarks.

Kwankwaso’s lawyers described the comments as false, malicious and damaging to their client’s reputation.

They said the remarks were designed to create division within the party and among supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso.

The legal team demanded that Ayodele publish a full and clear retraction on all social media platforms and news outlets where the original claim had circulated.

They also demanded a written undertaking that the cleric would stop making further statements considered malicious against Kwankwaso.

The lawyers warned that failure to comply with the demand would leave them with no option but to commence legal action against him.

According to the letter, the proposed action would include a claim of N10 billion in damages and full legal costs.

The development has added another twist to the political conversation around Obi and Kwankwaso, following claims by the cleric that the former Kano governor would betray Obi.