Kwara APC Rift Deepens as Yahaya Seriki Petitions DSS Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks by Yeketi

ILORIN — The political temperature within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen further as former governorship aspirant, Ambassador Abdulfatah Yahaya Seriki-Gambari, reportedly petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged defamatory remarks attributed to APC chieftain, Engineer Musa Ayinla Yeketi.

The development as reported by Confidence News Nigeria, adds a fresh legal and security dimension to a dispute that reportedly began with comments made by Yeketi during a live radio programme in Ilorin. Seriki has rejected the claims attributed to the APC chieftain, describing them as false and damaging to his reputation.

The controversy reportedly followed the September 17 edition of Oro Ilu, a programme broadcast on Sobi FM, where Yeketi was discussing political developments involving members of the G15 bloc. Reports on the programme alleged that Yeketi linked Seriki’s exclusion from a political arrangement to purported adverse security reports.

Seriki has strongly disputed the allegation and, according to reports, considers the statement capable of damaging his public image and political standing. The claims remain allegations at this stage and have not been established by any court.

Interestingly, the matter did not immediately begin as a legal confrontation, Seriki initially sought to settle the disagreement privately, reportedly contacting Yeketi by telephone and appealing to him to withdraw the statement and publicly correct the impression allegedly created by the remarks.

When the disagreement persisted, the matter reportedly moved into the legal arena. Seriki, through his lawyer, Barrister Abdulwahab Issa, issued a pre-action notice to Yeketi demanding a retraction of the alleged statement and an unreserved public apology.

The reported demands also included an apology through the same radio platform where the disputed remarks were allegedly made, as well as publication of the apology in national newspapers. Seriki’s legal representatives reportedly further sought an undertaking that Yeketi would not repeat similar allegations.

The pre-action notice reportedly warned that failure to meet the demands could result in formal court proceedings, with Seriki potentially seeking damages and other remedies available under the law. The legal action therefore places the dispute on a potentially more consequential footing if the parties fail to reach an agreement.

Yeketi, however, has also responded to the controversy. His media team, in a statement signed by Comrade Raheem Funsho Okolo, reportedly said the comments were based on circulating but unconfirmed reports concerning political developments involving aspirants associated with the G15 bloc. The team also maintained that Yeketi would continue to speak publicly about political developments in Kwara.

The dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of heightened political activity within the Kwara APC ahead of the 2027 elections. Seriki has been identified among prominent figures associated with the G15, while Yeketi has also played a role in party reconciliation efforts amid internal disagreements over the party’s political direction.

For now, the central issue remains contested: Seriki maintains that the alleged remarks were false and defamatory, while Yeketi’s camp has defended his participation in political discourse. With the matter reportedly extending from private efforts at settlement to a legal notice and a petition to the DSS, attention will now focus on whether the parties reach a resolution or the dispute eventually proceeds to formal litigation.