The Peoples Gazette has stated that it stands steadfastly by its April 1, 2023 publication of a phone conversation between Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, in Ota, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.
Since its publication, the leaked tape discussion in which Obi warned Oyedepo that the presidential election on February 25 was a “holy war” has drawn outrage from all throughout the country.
Obi, who had kept mute on the leaked audio chat, disputed it on Wednesday, calling it a fake and the work of the APC, the current government (APC).
He claimed that after the elections, he had also come under pressure to leave Nigeria.
In addition, the third-place finisher in the presidential election and former governor of Anambra state threatened to sue Peoples Gazette for libel and defamation over the audio discussion that was leaked.
Boladale Adekoya, the newspaper’s deputy managing editor, responded to Obi’s threat to file a lawsuit on Thursday by stating that the publication stands by its content.
He claimed that while they would go to great lengths to preserve the source, Obi wants to compel them to reveal it during the trial.
Adekoya noted that the Obi’s leaked audio clip was sourced and properly authenticated in advance of running it.
“The audio and the context surrounding it were properly sourced and authenticated in line with journalism best practices,” he said.
Adekoya, who stressed that The Gazette was prepared to go to any length to protect the source of the clip, said, “Finally, we maintain in no uncertain terms that we will uphold the principle of source protection to any length.”
