Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has taken steps to sue activist Deji Adeyanju over what he claims are defamatory remarks shared across various social media platforms.
Obi, represented by his counsel Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Adeyanju of consistently making “false and malicious” allegations against him on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other outlets.
According to a formal demand letter, Adeyanju allegedly painted Obi in a negative light by labeling him corrupt, fraudulent, and a religious bigot. Some of the controversial posts, dating as far back as 2022, were said to have been deliberately aimed at damaging Obi’s image in Nigeria and abroad.
The letter highlighted specific claims, including allegations that Obi funneled Anambra State funds into family ventures, attempted to bribe Adeyanju after a private meeting, and exploited religion during the 2023 election campaign. Obi’s lawyers dismissed these assertions as “false, malicious, and contrived,” stressing that none were grounded in fact.
The legal team also accused Adeyanju of referring to Obi as “the leader of a mob” and “a scum,” statements they argued were designed to present him as divisive and anarchistic.
Obi is demanding that Adeyanju remove the alleged defamatory contents, issue public apologies across his social media accounts, and publish retractions in three national newspapers.
Failure to meet these conditions within seven days, the letter warned, would leave Obi with no choice but to file a lawsuit seeking aggravated damages, legal cost recovery, and an injunction to prevent further defamation.
“The statements have been widely disseminated, causing untold damage to our client’s reputation and integrity,” the letter read in part.
