Peter Obi threatens N5bn defamation suit against Kenneth Okonkwo over bribery allegations

A political fallout between former allies has exploded into a legal showdown, as allegations of bribery, betrayal, and reputational damage now head for the courts.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has issued a pre-action notice threatening a defamation lawsuit against Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over alleged damaging comments made during a live television interview.

In a letter signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Alex Ejesieme, Obi demanded a public apology and retraction, alongside a ₦5 billion compensation for alleged reputational damage, or risk legal proceedings.

The dispute stems from comments Okonkwo made on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily,” where he alleged that Obi and the South-East caucus of the NDC demanded payments from House of Representatives and Senate aspirants in exchange for party tickets. He further referenced claims involving Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant, suggesting irregular financial dealings tied to ticket allocation.

However, Ohaegbu later appeared on the same programme to deny the allegation that Obi personally received ₦10 million from him. He clarified that payments he made were lodged into the NDC’s bank account based on instructions allegedly received from the party’s national secretary, not Obi.

In the pre-action letter, Obi described Okonkwo’s remarks as “false, baseless, malicious and reckless,” insisting they amounted to defamatory imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, and financial dishonesty. The letter argued that the statements were made on national television and widely circulated across social media platforms, amplifying their alleged harm to Obi’s reputation.

Obi’s legal team further stated that the comments were intended to lower his standing in the eyes of the public and portray him as lacking integrity, stressing that the broadcast and online republication worsened the perceived damage.

The letter demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statements, a full unreserved apology on Channels Television and all social media platforms, including X, and payment of damages within a specified timeframe, failing which legal action would commence.

In response, Okonkwo pushed back on social media, saying he had not yet fully reviewed the letter but dismissed the threat of a ₦5 billion claim with sarcasm, insisting that Obi should not resort to what he called extortion. He also referenced his past role as Obi’s spokesperson during the 2023 election cycle, noting he had personally supported campaign logistics at the time.

Okonkwo maintained that he may disclose further information if necessary and challenged Obi’s legal team to proceed to court, escalating tensions in what has become a public political and legal dispute between former allies now on opposing political paths.