Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has called on Deji Adeyanju to present the evidence he claims to have against former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful, Peter Obi.
Yesufu, a vocal supporter of Obi, said she and many other Nigerians would not support a fraudulent politician. She added that she welcomes the court case Obi has filed against Adeyanju and looks forward to seeing the alleged proof.
Deji Adeyanju, a lawyer and social commentator, recently accused Peter Obi of being a fraud, a manipulator, and a religious bigot. These claims have sparked outrage and debate on social media, with many Obi supporters dismissing them as false and politically motivated.
Adeyanju has repeated his claims in multiple posts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), insisting that Obi is not the honest leader many believe him to be. He also dared the former Labour Party presidential candidate to sue him so he could present his evidence.
Now that Peter Obi has taken legal action, Aisha Yesufu says it is time for Adeyanju to bring forward his evidence in court.
“Barrister Deji Adeyanju has repeatedly said that he has evidence to show that Mr. Peter Obi is a fraud,” Yesufu said in a post on X. “As a supporter of Mr. Peter Obi, I am interested in the evidence the Barrister has. I would not be one to give support to anyone that is fraudulent.”
She continued, “This case will offer me and millions of others the opportunity to have access to the evidence Barrister Deji has so we know whether to continue our support for Mr. Peter Obi or withdraw it.”
Yesufu praised Obi’s decision to seek redress in court rather than using state security agencies to silence his critic, as some Nigerian politicians have done in the past.
“Mr. Peter Obi going to court is the civil thing to do,” she said. “Where one is defamed, especially from a lawyer, then one should go to court.”
“If Mr. Peter Obi had used the machinery of the state to get Barrister Deji arrested and thrown into jail like many of the dictators we fight are doing, then I would be leading a #FreeDejiAdeyanju campaign and calling out Mr. Peter Obi.”
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is widely regarded by his supporters as a symbol of integrity and hope for a better Nigeria. Many Nigerians, especially the youth, rallied around him during the last elections, believing he represented a shift from the usual political class.
His movement, popularly known as the “Obidient” movement, shook Nigeria’s political space and made him a strong third-force candidate. Though he lost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi continues to enjoy massive support across the country.
However, critics like Adeyanju have accused him of being deceptive and playing to religious and ethnic sentiments. Adeyanju’s recent outbursts, where he called Obi a fraud, have drawn attention and raised questions about his motives.
Some Nigerians have accused Adeyanju of being used by political opponents to discredit Obi ahead of the 2027 elections. These accusations have not been proven, and Adeyanju continues to insist that he is simply speaking the truth.
He has not yet publicly presented any documents or facts to back his claims, but has promised to do so in court.
In Nigeria, defamation cases involving politicians are not new. However, this case is gaining attention because it involves two public figures who are both outspoken and influential in their own ways.
Aisha Yesufu is known for her role in co-founding the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaign, which gained international attention after the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014. She has since remained active in political and human rights advocacy.
Her call for evidence is being seen by many as a mature and responsible way of handling political disagreements. Rather than resorting to insults or online battles, she insists that facts should be presented in a lawful manner.
With Peter Obi’s legal action already underway, all eyes are now on the courts. Will Deji Adeyanju provide the evidence he claims to have? Or will the case end without any concrete proof?
