By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A legal dispute has emerged within the political landscape of Kosofe Federal Constituency following the issuance of a pre-action notice by Lawspective Partners LP on behalf of Mayor Oladele Oshinowo (MDO), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the House of Representatives seat in Kosofe Federal Constituency.
The notice arises from the circulation of a document titled “A Call for Order, Unity and Respect within APC Kosofe Federal Constituency,” which allegedly contains a series of statements considered by Oshinowo’s legal representatives to be false, malicious, and defamatory.
According to the legal firm, the publication made several allegations against their client, including claims of financial misconduct during his tenure as chairman, accusations of bribery, assertions that he manipulated or hijacked the APC primary election conducted on May 16, 2026, and allegations that he unlawfully declared himself the winner of an election that purportedly never took place.
The document also reportedly accused Oshinowo of engaging in land-grabbing activities, orchestrating unlawful property demolitions within Agboyi-Ketu, and sponsoring an opposition candidate during the 2023 general elections.
In the notice, the solicitors maintained that the allegations are entirely unfounded and were deliberately published to damage their client’s reputation, diminish his standing within the APC, and undermine his political credibility among constituents.
While acknowledging the constitutional right to freedom of expression guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the firm argued that such protection does not extend to the dissemination of false information capable of injuring an individual’s reputation.
The lawyers contended that the publication constitutes actionable libel under Nigerian law and warned that legal remedies would be pursued should the matter remain unresolved.
As part of their demands, the solicitors requested the immediate cessation of further publication and circulation of the disputed statements. They also called for a public retraction of the allegations, an unreserved apology across all platforms where the statements were published, and a written undertaking guaranteeing that no further defamatory, intimidating, or cyber-related attacks would be directed at their client.
The legal team further warned that failure to comply within seven days could result in the commencement of civil proceedings seeking general and aggravated damages for libel. They also indicated that the matter may be reported to relevant law enforcement authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Cybercrime Unit, for investigation under applicable provisions of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.
The development adds another dimension to the post-primary political tensions within Kosofe, where debates over the outcome of the APC primary election and the future direction of the party continue to generate significant public interest.
As of the time of filing this report, no public response had been issued by the individuals or groups alleged to be responsible for the publication.
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