Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has stirred fresh controversy after declaring that he would rather cast his vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than support former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, in the 2027 presidential election.
Adeyanju made this remark on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief. He was responding to a question on whether his recent criticisms of Obi were aimed at discrediting the opposition figure.
“God forbid that I support APC. But if the opposition presents Peter Obi, I will vote for Tinubu,” Adeyanju said.
The activist and Obi have been at loggerheads for months, a feud that recently shifted to the courtroom. Obi’s legal team, EJESIMEN & CO MADIBA CHAMBERS, SAN, issued a notice of intention to sue Adeyanju over alleged defamatory remarks made on social media and in interviews. One of the contentious posts, dated August 21, accused Obi of diverting Anambra State funds to invest in his family business and allegedly attempting to bribe Adeyanju with money disguised as a “thank you for coming” gift.
In response, Adeyanju dismissed the legal threat and expressed eagerness to meet Obi in court. Writing on Facebook, he described the former Labour Party candidate as “a fraud parading himself as a messiah.”
Adeyanju also accused Obi of fostering a toxic political culture through his supporters known as the Obidients. According to him, “We cannot have a man who leads a mob that terrorizes people online and cannot tolerate criticism. Anybody who doesn’t support Obi is immediately branded an enemy of Nigeria or accused of being paid off. That is not democracy.”
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The activist further questioned Obi’s democratic credentials, insisting that unlike others who risked their lives during Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggles, Obi has made no comparable sacrifices. “We must sanitise our polity,” he argued.
Reflecting on his voting history, Adeyanju said he has always stood by credible candidates. “In 1999, I voted for Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2011, I voted for Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, I voted for Jonathan again against those who wanted Muhammadu Buhari. In my opinion, I have never voted for a bad candidate.”
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Adeyanju has consistently maintained that Obi cannot emerge as Nigeria’s president, regardless of his growing alliance with opposition leaders. In a recent post, he asserted: “Even if Obidients change strategy and stop political extremism, their candidate cannot be president. It’s too late already. Even Atiku Abubakar has a better chance than Obi.”
Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, has not hidden his intention to contest again in 2027. His ongoing consultations with opposition figures have fueled speculations of a possible coalition to challenge President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
