“Peter Obi Tried to Bribe Me, His Supporters Are Toxic, He’s a Political Prostitute” — Deji Adeyanju

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has alleged that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, attempted to bribe him during the lead-up to last year’s election—a claim he says he firmly rejected.

In an unreserved interview on Channels Television on Friday, Adeyanju stated that Obi, who has threatened to sue him for defamation, “can do his worst,” insisting that truth is a valid defense in any legal action.

Adeyanju recounted that he initially avoided Obi’s repeated attempts to meet him after publicly commenting on the need for opposition unity in 2022. He said his statements were purely his own political opinions, aimed at ensuring the opposition could challenge the ruling APC effectively.

“The idea of Obi’s candidacy excited me, and I said he needed the buy-in of Atiku and Kwankwaso. I even urged Kwankwaso to deputize Obi, and Atiku to step down for him,” Adeyanju said.

He described a meeting arranged through one of Obi’s aides, during which Obi allegedly praised him and suggested collaboration. According to Adeyanju, the discussion then turned to allegations of corruption against Obi, including claims that he invested state resources into family businesses while governor of Anambra. Adeyanju said he was “flabbergasted” by Obi’s response.

As Adeyanju prepared to leave, he claimed Obi returned with an envelope, saying it was “a small thing for coming.” “I laughed and told him he didn’t know me. I don’t collect such things. I rejected it and left,” Adeyanju stated. He added that he only spoke publicly about the incident after being falsely accused by Obi’s aides of demanding N200 million.

Adeyanju also criticized Obi’s supporters, known as “Obidients,” accusing them of harassment and intimidation during the election season. “They threatened judges, harassed artists, insulted Prof. Wole Soyinka, and attacked anyone who criticized Obi. We had never seen such toxicity in Nigerian politics except under Buhari,” he said.

On Obi’s political character, Adeyanju called him “a political fraud” and “a political prostitute” for his shifting party affiliations, asserting that all his statements were factual and challenging Obi to proceed with the defamation suit.

The controversy follows a letter from Obi’s lawyers, Lex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co., demanding a retraction and public apology from Adeyanju over what they described as “false, malicious, and grossly defamatory statements” on social media. The lawyers warned that legal action would follow if Adeyanju failed to comply within seven days.

Obi had previously downplayed personal attacks, stating during a Channels Television program that it “doesn’t bother me if you call me a thief, call me a loser, call me an idiot.” However, his legal team cited several posts by Adeyanju alleging corruption, fraud, and an attempted bribe.

Adeyanju dismissed the legal threat, calling Obi “a fraud parading himself as a messiah,” and revealed that his team had also served a similar retraction notice to one of Obi’s aides over alleged defamatory publications. Obi’s lawyers maintained that their client has consistently championed unity and inclusiveness, describing Adeyanju’s statements as “reckless and pernicious falsehoods” and demanding deletion, a public apology, and compensation for damages if ignored.