Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has threatened to sue activist Deji Adeyanju over what he described as a sustained campaign of false and defamatory publications on social media.
Obi, through his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Adeyanju of repeatedly spreading malicious statements across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other online platforms aimed at damaging his reputation.
In a letter of demand addressed to Adeyanju, Obi was accused of being portrayed as corrupt, fraudulent, and a religious bigot. The posts, some of which date back to 2022, allegedly alleged that Obi diverted Anambra State funds into family businesses, attempted to bribe Adeyanju after a private meeting, and exploited religion to influence voters during the 2023 general elections.
The legal team also cited publications in which Adeyanju described Obi as “the leader of a mob” and “a scum”, remarks they said were calculated to present him as anarchic and divisive.
Obi’s lawyers described the allegations as “false, malicious, and contrived”, insisting they had caused serious harm to the former governor’s reputation both locally and internationally.
The letter demanded that Adeyanju immediately delete all offending posts, tender a public apology across his social media handles, and publish apologies in three national dailies.
Failure to comply within seven days, the letter warned, would leave Obi with no choice but to proceed to court to seek aggravated damages, a restraining injunction, and recovery of legal costs.
“The statements have been widely disseminated, causing untold damage to our client’s reputation and integrity,” the lawyers stated.
Adeyanju Dares Obi: ‘I Can’t Wait to Meet Him in Court’
Rights activist and political commentator Deji Adeyanju has dismissed threats of a defamation lawsuit from former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing the move as laughable.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, had through his lawyers issued a demand notice accusing Adeyanju of publishing defamatory statements against him on social media.
The legal team cited several posts in which Adeyanju allegedly portrayed Obi as corrupt, fraudulent, and a religious bigot.
Among the remarks referenced was Adeyanju’s claim that Obi once attempted to give him money after a private meeting, which he described as an effort to buy his loyalty.
The notice also mentioned a recent post dated August 21, where Adeyanju alleged that Obi invested state funds in a company linked to his family during his tenure as governor.
But in a statement posted on his social media accounts on Wednesday, Adeyanju fired back, insisting he would not retract any comment.
“Just got this letter from Peter Obi, the religious bigot, demanding a retraction from me. I laughed so hard. I can’t wait to meet him in court finally. A fraud parading himself as a messiah,” Adeyanju wrote.
The activist accused Obi of hypocrisy, recalling how the former governor once referred to pro-democracy campaigner Omoyele Sowore as a “blackmailer-in-chief”.
Adeyanju also noted that his legal team had earlier served a similar letter on Serah Ibrahim, a supporter of Obi, demanding a retraction of statements she allegedly made against his wife.
“This same guy called the great Sowore a blackmailer-in-chief. We served his little errand girl Serah a letter to retract all her defamatory publications on Monday against my wife, and she ran to the leader of the mob for help. Can’t wait to meet him in court,” he added.
The exchange marks an escalation in the feud between the former presidential candidate and the outspoken activist, with both sides now preparing for a legal showdown.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
