The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has instituted a lawsuit against his predecessor and former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, over allegations that a social media post circulated on April 17, 2026, constitutes criminal defamation and cyberbullying. Following the development, a legal team representing Senator Saraki, led by Mr. Jimoh Mumini, SAN, appeared before the Kwara State High Court to defend him against the charges.
Providing insights into the legal battle, the Press Officer on Local Matters for the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Abdulkadir Abdulganiy, disclosed in a statement that the governor's primary grievance focused on a post questioning his secondary school educational qualifications. The prosecution contended before the court that the publication was capable of causing a severe breakdown of public peace across the state. During the arguments before Justice M. O. Folorunso, the government's lawyers requested a bench warrant and a formal court order to compel Senator Saraki to appear physically before the court.
In response, Saraki’s defense team strongly challenged the validity of the entire suit, arguing that the court processes were improperly filed by the prosecution and that the High Court lacked the statutory jurisdiction to hear the matter. They maintained that the jurisdictional issue goes to the root of the case, asserting that the posts published on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) were a lawful exercise of free speech and represented a political right of reply by the leader of the opposition to Governor Abdulrazaq’s political platform. After listening to the arguments from both sides, Justice Folorunso adjourned the matter until July 3, 2026, to deliver a ruling on the applications.
Reacting to the development, the Saraki Media Office characterized the lawsuit as a recurring attempt by the Kwara governor to weaponize the courts to harass and intimidate opposition leaders whenever they criticize the policies of his administration. The statement expressed confidence that the case would fall like a pack of badly arranged cards, alleging that the state government is prioritizing a personal internet dispute over the acute insecurity plaguing the state, where two out of the three senatorial districts have reportedly become strongholds for kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents.
The opposition platform further highlighted the plight of 176 people kidnapped from the Woro community in the northern part of the state, who have remained in captivity since early February, lamenting that their rescue has taken a backseat to a social media post. The statement noted that the energy and resources deployed to mobilize supporters and media to the court premises would have been better utilized to secure the release of citizens currently held in kidnappers' dens. Saraki reaffirmed his confidence in the ability of the judiciary to deliver justice, urging his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while asserting that oppressive tactics would not silence him on matters of public interest. The media office added that with only 11 months left in the current administration's tenure, such tendencies would soon be completely eradicated by the Kwara electorate.
In a separate political development contained in the statement, the leadership of the Obidient Movement has reaffirmed that its central mission remains unaltered along Peter Obi’s principles and approach to governance. The leadership stated that it is necessary for both supporters and critics to unequivocally understand that the movement's steadfast commitment to ending the transactional politics that have held Nigeria captive is absolute, dismissing rumors of internal division or fragmentation ahead of future political engagements.
The statement maintained that there is no division whatsoever regarding the fundamental socio-economic objectives of the political group. They urged their vast network of organic supporters globally to completely dismiss deliberately orchestrated campaigns of distraction, emphasizing that the movement remains unified, vigilant, and singularly focused on achieving national liberation.
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