The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has taken a strong stance against activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, issuing a formal seven-day ultimatum through his legal team over what he described as a series of defamatory, false, and malicious statements that have allegedly been targeted at him for years. Obi, who has consistently maintained his reputation as a leader of integrity and transparency, expressed deep concern over the damaging remarks which he claims are designed to mislead Nigerians and tarnish his global image.
According to a letter issued by Obi’s counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Adeyanju must comply with a set of clear demands within the stipulated time frame. These demands include the immediate retraction of all statements considered defamatory, the deletion of every related post across his social media platforms, and the publication of a full, unreserved apology. The apology is to be made not only on Adeyanju’s personal accounts but also in no fewer than three widely read national newspapers to ensure the correction of the record reaches the public at large.
The ultimatum letter highlighted Adeyanju’s persistent pattern of attacks, pointing out that his controversial posts date as far back as 2022. The letter singled out a particularly provocative post made on August 21, 2025, in which Adeyanju dismissed Obi as a “president of the obidients on social media” and vowed never to vote for him, even preferring to cast his ballot for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu instead. The post further accused Obi’s supporters of being intolerant of criticism, labeling them as political extremists. Obi’s camp strongly denounced this language, describing it as not only misleading but deliberately crafted to undermine his political relevance and public trust.
Obi’s legal representatives emphasized that these words, and others previously shared by Adeyanju, were “grossly defamatory, false, and malicious.” They argued that such remarks were intentionally calculated to harm Obi’s credibility, reduce his political capital, and diminish the goodwill he enjoys among Nigerians and members of the international community. The letter therefore served as a final warning, cautioning Adeyanju that failure to comply would compel Obi to initiate legal proceedings in a competent court of law.
The demands spelled out by Obi’s legal team were detailed and uncompromising, and they include:
– The immediate and permanent deletion of all defamatory statements and posts attributed to Adeyanju about Obi, across all platforms.
– The issuance of a comprehensive, public, and unqualified apology to Obi, to be published both on Adeyanju’s personal social media pages and in three major national newspapers with wide circulation.
– Payment of aggravated damages as compensation for the alleged defamation, as well as full coverage of all legal costs incurred by Obi should the matter proceed to court.
The letter concluded with a stern caution: “TAKE NOTICE THAT if you fail, refuse, or neglect to comply with the above demands within seven (7) days of your receipt of this letter, we have our Client’s firm and unreserved instructions to proceed against you in a Court of competent jurisdiction for appropriate redress.”
This latest development has sparked intense reactions among political observers and Nigerians online, many of whom are closely following the unfolding dispute. While some argue that Adeyanju’s comments fall under freedom of speech, others insist that his remarks crossed the boundary into defamation, thus justifying Obi’s legal response. Regardless of the varying opinions, the case underscores the increasing role of social media in shaping political narratives and the growing tendency for politicians and public figures to pursue legal remedies against online attacks.
