Obi threatens N5bn defamation suit against Kenneth Okonkwo

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has threatened legal action against former ally and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview.

In a pre-action letter signed by his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Obi accused Okonkwo of making false and damaging allegations against him during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday.

The dispute marks a further deterioration in the relationship between the two politicians, who were once political associates in the Labour Party before joining the ADC. Obi subsequently left the party for the NDC.

During the television interview, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and members of the NDC South-East caucus demanded N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants in exchange for party tickets.

He specifically claimed that Obunike Ohaegbu, an aspirant for the Nnewi North-South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency seat in Anambra State, had sent him a message and payment receipt alleging that Obi collected N10 million from him and other aspirants.

According to Okonkwo, the aspirants were later instructed to participate in party primaries despite allegedly being promised tickets after making the payments.

He further alleged that Obi stayed at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja, where he reportedly compiled and submitted a list of NDC candidates for various constituencies. Okonkwo also accused the party of extorting aspirants and described such actions as criminal.

However, Ohaegbu has publicly denied making the claims attributed to him by Okonkwo.

Speaking on the same Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Ohaegbu said Obi never asked him to pay N10 million and that he never told Okonkwo that Obi demanded any bribe.

“I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay N10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay N10 million,” he said.

Ohaegbu also denied accusing the NDC South-East caucus of bribery or alleging that Obi personally prepared a list of candidates at Johnwood Hotel.

“What I said is that there was an allegation that the list had been prepared in Johnwood. I didn’t mention names,” he clarified.

In the letter, Obi described Okonkwo’s allegations as false, reckless and damaging, arguing that they portrayed him as a bribe collector, fraudster and dishonest political actor involved in criminal activities.

“These are extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality directed at the character, integrity, reputation and public standing of my person,” Obi stated.

He further accused Okonkwo of deliberately seeking to expose him to public hatred, contempt and ridicule.

As part of his demands, Obi asked Okonkwo to retract the statements and publish an apology on Channels Television and across all his social media platforms within seven days.

He also demanded the payment of N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged harm caused to his reputation, as well as a written undertaking that no similar statements would be made in the future.

The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands would leave Obi with no option but to seek legal redress, including claims for damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction, apology and the full cost of legal proceedings.

Okonkwo had not publicly responded to the letter as of the time of filing this report.