The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded ₦5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
According to a legal letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s lawyers, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Alex Ejesieme, accused Okonkwo of making false, malicious, and damaging allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8. The legal team argued that the statements were subsequently amplified through various media platforms, causing reputational damage to their client.
The controversy stems from allegations allegedly made by Okonkwo that Obi and leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded an additional ₦10 million from House of Representatives aspirants after they had paid the party’s official expression of interest fees. Okonkwo was also alleged to have claimed that documentary evidence existed to support the accusation and that Obi personally influenced the compilation of candidate lists.
In the letter, Obi’s legal team described the claims as false, baseless, malicious, and entirely unsupported by evidence. They argued that the statements portrayed the former Anambra governor as a participant in bribery, extortion, fraud, and criminal conspiracy, thereby damaging his integrity and public image.
The lawyers demanded that Okonkwo, within seven days, withdraw the alleged defamatory statements, publish an unequivocal and unreserved apology with the same or greater prominence as the original publication, and provide a written undertaking not to make further defamatory remarks against Obi. In addition, they requested the payment of ₦5 billion as general, aggravated, and exemplary damages for the alleged injury caused to Obi’s reputation.
The legal team warned that failure to comply with the demands would leave their client with no option but to institute legal proceedings seeking damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction, and legal costs.
Responding to the development, Okonkwo dismissed the demand and indicated that he would formally respond after reviewing the letter. In a post on social media, he challenged Obi to proceed with legal action, maintaining his position and suggesting that court proceedings could expose additional information from his time as Obi’s spokesperson.
The dispute marks the latest chapter in the growing political rift between the two former allies, whose relationship has deteriorated following disagreements over political strategy and party affairs. Political observers believe the case could develop into a significant legal and political battle with implications for the evolving opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
