The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has threatened legal action against former ally and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
In a pre-action letter issued through his counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, Obi demanded a retraction and public apology from Okonkwo over claims that he was involved in the collection of N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants seeking party tickets.
The dispute arose from comments made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, where he alleged that Obi and members of the NDC’s South-East caucus demanded N10 million from aspirants in exchange for securing party nominations.
Okonkwo specifically referenced an Anambra-based House of Representatives aspirant, Obunike Ohaegbu, claiming the aspirant had forwarded messages and payment receipts to him as evidence of the alleged transaction. He further alleged that after collecting the money, party leaders directed aspirants to participate in primaries rather than granting them automatic tickets.
The ADC chieftain also claimed that Obi influenced the selection of candidates by compiling and submitting lists of nominees from a hotel in Abuja.
However, Ohaegbu subsequently distanced himself from the allegations. Appearing on the same television programme a day later, he denied ever informing Okonkwo that Obi requested or received N10 million from him.
According to Ohaegbu, he never accused Obi or the South-East caucus of collecting bribes, nor did he state that Obi personally compiled candidate lists. He clarified that he merely referred to rumours that a list had been prepared and did not mention Obi in that context.
Reacting through his lawyers, Obi described Okonkwo’s allegations as false, malicious and highly defamatory. He argued that the statements portrayed him as a fraudster, bribe collector and participant in criminal activities, thereby damaging his reputation and public standing.
The former Anambra State governor demanded that Okonkwo retract the statements and publish an unreserved apology on Channels Television and across all his social media platforms within seven days.
Obi also demanded the payment of N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged injury caused to his reputation, alongside a written undertaking that similar statements would not be repeated in the future.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would leave Obi with no option but to institute legal proceedings seeking damages, injunctive reliefs, public retractions and the full cost of litigation.
As of the time of filing this report, Okonkwo had not publicly responded to the demands.