The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview.
According to a report by Obi’s legal team, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), issued a letter dated June 9, 2026, accusing Okonkwo of making false and malicious allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8.
The lawyers alleged that Okonkwo claimed Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants after payment of official nomination fees. The letter further stated that Okonkwo accused Obi of compiling candidate lists from a hotel room, collecting money from individuals abroad and participating in criminal activities alongside other party officials.
Obi’s legal representatives argued that the allegations portrayed him as someone involved in bribery, extortion, fraud and criminal conspiracy. They described the statements as false, baseless and unsupported by evidence, insisting that they had caused serious damage to Obi’s reputation and public standing.
The legal team demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements within seven days, publish an unequivocal apology with equal or greater prominence than the original publication, pay N5 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, and provide a written undertaking not to make similar allegations in future.
The letter warned that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings seeking damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction and legal costs.
Responding on his X account, Okonkwo dismissed the demand and said he had not yet reviewed the letter. He described Obi’s action as an attempt at extortion and challenged him to proceed to court.
Okonkwo also suggested that any legal action could lead to the disclosure of information he obtained while serving as Obi’s spokesperson, adding that he would respond formally after reading the correspondence.
The dispute marks a significant escalation in tensions between the former political allies and could ultimately be decided in court if the parties fail to reach a resolution. The allegations made by both sides remain untested in court.
