Former National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement and current Political Adviser to New Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi, Yunusa Tanko, has demanded ₦5 billion in damages from fellow Obi supporter Nmaa Ukpabi.
NEWSNGR reports that Tanko, through his lawyers, V-C Ottaokpukpu & Associates, Umuchukwu Chambers, made the demand over alleged defamatory publications concerning the disputed NDC House of Assembly ticket in Kaduna State.
In a pre-action notice dated September 9, 2026, he accused Ukpabi of making defamatory and injurious statements about him on social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
The dispute is linked to the controversy surrounding the NDC primary election for Kawo Constituency in Kaduna State, where Tanko’s son, Yunusa Mohammed Salisu, was declared the party’s candidate despite another aspirant, Rakiya Baba Mohammed, being declared winner at the primary.
In the latest development, Tanko’s lawyers accused Ukpabi of repeatedly publishing statements they described as defamatory and malicious, including allegations that Tanko manipulated the primary election to secure the ticket for his son.
The letter said Ukpabi accused Tanko of being a “mandate thief orchestrator” and alleged that he replaced Rakiya’s name with his son’s.
The lawyers quoted Ukpabi as writing: “Dr Tanko, the mandate thief orchestrator.
“You are a huge disappointment to the Obidient movement worldwide.
“You are corrupt and do not deserve to be associated with the Obidient movement.
“What you have taught your son in 2026 is to be a mandate thief.
“It is only a hardened mandate thief professional that would birth a generation of mandate thieves.”
Ukpabi also allegedly wrote: “You stole Rakiya’s mandate successfully for your son Salisu last Friday, July 31st 2026, and Rakiya’s name was removed from the list while Salisu, your son’s name, was uploaded on the list.”
She further described Tanko’s son as a “mandate thief” and alleged that Tanko had attempted to influence political figures to pressure Rakiya.
The lawyers said the publications were shared on several WhatsApp groups, including the All Inclusive Obidient Movement-General, Obidient Movement Lagos State, OK-Movement Kaduna State, All-Inclusive Obidient National Coordinators and All-Inclusive Obidient Leaders in NDC Coalition.
They said the alleged publications portrayed Tanko as “a thief, corrupt, fraudulent, wicked, shameless, deceitful, untrustworthy and duplicitous.”
The lawyers also accused Ukpabi of alleging that their client “manipulated the primary election process and corruptly ensured that Rakiya was shortchanged of her victory” and gave the ticket to his son.
According to the legal notice, the statements were circulated through WhatsApp groups, Facebook, 𝕏 and other social media platforms.
The lawyers said the publications portrayed their client as a thief, corrupt person and someone who fraudulently manipulated the NDC primary election in favour of his son.
They rejected the allegations, arguing that Tanko’s reputation had been built over years of public service and political activism.
The lawyers said their client had been associated with “unity, Youth and grassroots Participation, stronger democratic institutions inter alia”, while his commitment to the rule of law and protection of human rights had never been questioned.
“Our client have (sic) therefore carefully considered the words used by you and made in utmost bad faith contained in your letter and several publications across various social media platforms and unable to fathom and decipher any scintilla and iota of truth in your baseless accusations that may warrant such a defamatory and injurious attack on his character and hard-earned reputation,” the lawyers said.
The legal notice accused Ukpabi’s publications of damaging Tanko’s reputation and demanded that the alleged defamatory materials be removed immediately.
The legal notice demanded that Ukpabi retract the alleged defamatory statements and publish apologies on two private television stations and the Nigerian Television Authority, as well as two private radio stations and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
The lawyers also demanded ₦5 billion in damages.
