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Deji Adeyanju ignites fresh controversy after calling Peter Obi an “idiot” and threatening to release the controversial “Yes Daddy” audio following the former Labour Party presidential candidate’s interview on Channels Television.
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Old social media post resurfaces, showing Adeyanju praising Obi in 2016 as “the kind of mentors we should always hype,” prompting accusations of inconsistency from critics.
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X users slam the activist’s remarks, describing his language as unbecoming of a public figure, while others accuse him of becoming “obsessed” with Obi and abandoning issue-based political engagement.
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Political exchanges intensify ahead of 2027, as Obi’s latest criticism of President Bola Tinubu continues to trigger fierce reactions from political actors, commentators and supporters across Nigeria’s social media space.
July 27, (THEWILL) — Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has come under intense criticism after describing former Anambra State governor and Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, as an “idiot” while reacting to the latter’s interview on Channels Television, with social media users resurfacing an old post in which the activist had openly praised Obi.
Adeyanju, in a post on his verified X account on Monday, said he was considering releasing the controversial “Yes Daddy” audio associated with Obi but decided against it because it would be “too embarrassing”.
“I feel like posting the YES DADDY audio of Peter Obi, the religious bigot, but it’s too embarrassing to post. That is the idiot that said he is going to unite Nigerians. The guy has no single character, integrity or shame!” he wrote.
The comments followed Obi’s appearance on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, where the former Labour Party presidential candidate urged President Bola Tinubu to step aside ahead of the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the President was “tired” and no longer had the capacity to effectively tackle Nigeria’s worsening economic and security challenges.
THEWILL reports that Obi also reaffirmed his commitment to serving only one term if elected Nigeria’s president in 2027, insisting he will leave office after four years.
Adeyanju’s remarks immediately generated widespread reactions, with many X users criticising the activist’s choice of words and accusing him of engaging in personal attacks rather than issue-based political engagement.
One user, identified as Sir Raph, questioned the appropriateness of the remarks.
“Don’t you think this is too low and needless for someone of your status to post? You condemn insults and yet insult”, he wrote.
Another respondent, Bright Gilbert, accused Adeyanju of becoming overly preoccupied with Obi.
“You are too in love and obsessed with Peter that you can’t eat without mentioning his name. Imagine a reasonable married man like you calling someone that has not personally offended you ‘IDIOT’. Is well Deji. May younger ones call you an idiot in your prime too.”
Similarly, Mozes faulted the activist for using abusive language.
“Why call him an idiot? You are a public figure and an activist. This kind of rhetoric is beneath you.”
Another commenter, Alani Oluwole, questioned Adeyanju’s political relevance, urging him to test his popularity at the polls rather than engage in insults on social media.
“Go to Kogi and contest for councillorship election. Let’s see how many votes you can gather. Talk carelessly like a motor boy in a garage,” he wrote.
Old Post Praising Obi Resurfaces
The criticism intensified after another X user, Josh Jnr, shared a screenshot of an old post attributed to Adeyanju, dated October 1, 2016, in which the activist expressed admiration for Obi.
In the resurfaced post, Adeyanju wrote:
“Peter Obi is the kind of mentor we should always hype in this country, not clowns like Fashola, etc.”
Posting the screenshot, Josh Jnr argued that Adeyanju’s latest comments sharply contradicted his earlier position on Obi.
“There’s no difference between you and Bwala,” he wrote, suggesting that the activist had abandoned the principled stance many of his supporters once associated with him.
The resurfaced post quickly attracted attention, with several users pointing to it as evidence of what they described as a dramatic shift in Adeyanju’s public position on the former Labour Party presidential candidate. Others, however, argued that individuals are entitled to change their political opinions over time as circumstances evolve.
Another user, Babalungu Nnem, also criticised Adeyanju, writing: “And this u that have integrity. U uselezz imbecile.”
The exchange rapidly gained traction across social media, adding another layer to the increasingly heated political discourse ahead of the 2027 general election.
Political Tensions Rise Ahead of 2027
The latest controversy comes amid growing political exchanges between supporters and critics of leading political figures as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Peter Obi has remained one of the most outspoken critics of President Tinubu’s administration, repeatedly raising concerns over worsening economic conditions, rising poverty, insecurity, unemployment and governance.
His latest call for President Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race has generated widespread debate across Nigeria’s political landscape, drawing strong reactions from government supporters, opposition figures, civil society actors and political commentators.
Adeyanju, a prominent activist known for his interventions on governance and human rights issues, has in recent months become increasingly critical of Obi, a development that has surprised many observers given his previous public commendation of the former Anambra State governor.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
