By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta 

The National Vice Chairman, (South West) of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, has issued a pre-action demand letter to the refers to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, demanding a public retraction, apology and ₦50 billion in compensation over an alleged defamatory statement made during a podcast interview.

The demand, was contained in a letter dated July 3, 2026, and issued by Neplus Ultra Attorneys and signed by Anderson U. Asemota, Peter O. Asimegbe and Stanley C. Eziefulle on behalf of Arabambi.

According to the letter, the legal action stems from comments allegedly made by Obi during an interview, where he was said to have stated that Arabambi “does not have an address.”

Arabambi’s legal team argued that the statement was false, malicious and defamatory, contending that it portrayed their client as a faceless individual, lacking legitimacy, credibility and standing in public life.

The lawyers maintained that the interview was subsequently circulated across television stations and multiple digital platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, thereby exposing their client to widespread public ridicule.

The letter reads, “Our Client has had a known residential and business address, maintains professional and political affiliations within Nigeria and has never been a person whose whereabouts or identity were unknown”.

It further argued that the publication damaged Arabambi’s reputation and subjected him to embarrassment and public ridicule.

“The ordinary and natural meaning which reasonable viewers attached to your publication was that our client is a faceless and unidentifiable person, has no known place of residence, lacks any legitimate standing in public life and is undeserving of public confidence,” the lawyers wrote.

The legal team also claimed that reactions generated on social media following the interview demonstrated that viewers understood the alleged remark as an attack on Arabambi’s identity and public credibility.

According to the solicitors, Obi, as a prominent political figure and NDC presidential candidate, ought to have exercised greater caution before making statements capable of damaging another person’s reputation.

The letter alleged that the circumstances surrounding the publication disclosed both express and implied malice, insisting that the statement was made with full appreciation of the audience it would reach.

“Our client has suffered considerable embarrassment, humiliation and injury to his reputation. The defamatory publication has impaired his standing in political and social circles and subjected him to needless attacks upon his integrity and personality,” the letter added.

As part of its demands, Arabambi’s legal team requested that Obi, within seven days of receiving the letter, issue “a clear, unequivocal and unconditional retraction” of the alleged defamatory statement on the same podcast or another platform of comparable reach.

The lawyers also demanded an “unreserved public apology” to be broadcast on national television and published on Obi’s verified social media platforms, as well as full-page apologies in Vanguard, The Punch, The Guardian, THISDAY and The Nation newspapers.

In addition, Arabambi is demanding the payment of ₦50 billion, as compensation for what he described as injury to his reputation, dignity, political standing and public image.

The letter further requested a written undertaking from Obi to refrain from making any further allegedly defamatory statements against Arabambi and directed him to preserve all materials relating to the podcast interview, including video recordings, transcripts, correspondence, electronic communications and digital metadata, warning that any destruction or alteration of evidence could be relied upon in future court proceedings.

The solicitors warned that failure to comply with the demands within seven days would leave their client with no option but to institute legal proceedings seeking declarations that the publication was defamatory, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, a perpetual injunction restraining further publication of similar statements, an order compelling a public retraction and apology, interest on monetary awards and the cost of the suit.

“Our Client would have preferred that this unfortunate episode be resolved without recourse to litigation. However, the protection of one’s reputation is a right recognised by law and cannot be surrendered in the face of a false and damaging publication,” the lawyers stated.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Taraba North, Kabiru Bello Bandawaire, has dismissed reports claiming he has been replaced as the party’s candidate, insisting that he remains the duly nominated flag bearer and will not withdraw from the race.

Speaking on Saturday in Jalingo, Taraba State, Bandawaire said he had no intention of stepping aside for any individual, maintaining that he was validly elected and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He described media reports alleging that the APC had substituted his name with that of the incumbent senator, Shuibu Isa Lau, as false and misleading.

“I will not withdraw from the senatorial race to represent Taraba North Senatorial District. I am the candidate and will not step aside for any individual.

“I cannot sell out the mandate given to me by the people. I am not aware of any replacement, and the party has not communicated such a decision to me,” Bandawaire said.

The APC candidate argued that the Electoral Act provides a clear process for the substitution of candidates, stressing that a duly nominated candidate can only be replaced after voluntarily withdrawing from the contest.

According to him, he has neither indicated any intention to withdraw nor submit any letter to the party expressing such a decision.

“I do not look like someone who will withdraw from the race, and that mandate remains mine. The party must respect due process,” he said.

Bandawaire further described the alleged substitution as undemocratic, insisting that any replacement must comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

“I wish to inform the people of Taraba that my name has not been replaced by anyone. I remain the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Taraba North,” he stated.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, has urged Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to pick a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election, warning that the party risks losing support over what he described as the marginalisation of Christians.

Vatsa gave the warning while speaking with journalists in Minna on Saturday, arguing that the APC’s recent primary elections, in which almost all candidates emerged as Muslims, had heightened concerns among members of the Christian community.

He claimed that only one Christian secured the party’s ticket for the State House of Assembly, representing Munya Local Government Area, while all three senatorial candidates, 11 House of Representatives candidates and 26 of the 27 House of Assembly candidates are Muslims.

According to him, Christians have also been largely excluded from political appointments, citing the composition of local government leadership across the state.

The former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism

alleged that despite Governor Bago’s public engagement with Christian groups, the pattern of appointments and candidate selection tells a different story.

“It’s not about attending church programmes, singing choruses or making donations. What matters is fairness and inclusion in appointments and elective positions,” he said.

Vatsa argued that choosing a Christian deputy governorship candidate in 2027 would help address the perceived imbalance and strengthen the APC’s chances at the polls.

“That is the only way people like us can confidently approach the Christian community to campaign for the party. If an opposition party picks a Christian deputy governor, it could attract sympathy votes,” he said.

Vatsa also maintained that the 2027 elections would be driven more by the credibility of candidates than party platforms.