‎The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened legal action against the founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele, over alleged defamatory comments.

‎In a letter dated June 11, 2026, and shared by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Hon. Saifullahi Hassan on Wednesday, the politician’s lawyers accused the cleric of making false and malicious statements during a live-streamed sermon.

Ayodele was quoted as saying, “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi, Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi.”

‎The legal team, Magaji Mato Ibrahim SAN & Co., described the remarks as damaging to Kwankwaso’s credibility 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) political party,” the letter reads.

They further described the remarks as “deliberate, premeditated, false, unprovoked, grossly unfounded and unsubstantiated,” adding that they portrayed Kwankwaso “to right thinking members of the society as deviant, hypocritic, deceitful and insincere”.

They demanded a full retraction and apology within 24 hours, warning that failure to comply would result in a ₦10 billion lawsuit.

‎Kwankwaso, who has served as Kano governor, Minister of Defence, senator, and presidential candidate, is currently Peter Obi’s running mate in the upcoming 2027 election under the NDC.

His camp insists the allegations were designed to tarnish his reputation and destabilize the party.