A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo says he may be forced to divulge confidential information if presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, files a lawsuit against him over alleged defamation.
Obi had demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from the actor-turned-politician over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
Okonkwo was an ally of Obi, while the latter was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 election and served as one of the spokespersons for the campaign council.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the south-east caucus of the NDC demanded bribes from House of Representatives and Senate hopefuls of the party in return for tickets.
He claimed that NDC aspirant for the House of Representatives ticket in Anambra, Obunike Ohaegbu, sent in a message alleging Obi scammed him to the tune of N10 million.
The next day, Ohaegbu appeared on the same television programme to deny allegations that Obi collected N10 million as a bribe from him. The House of Reps aspirant explained that he paid N10 million to the NDC bank account based on the information he received from the party’s national secretary and not to Obi.
Obi’s lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme SAN, in a letter dated June 9, 2026, demanded that Okonkwo, within seven days of receiving the letter, withdraw the statements, publish an “unequivocal and unreserved” apology, and ensure the apology receives the same or greater prominence as the original publication.
The demand added: “Pay to our Client, through our Chambers, the sum of Five Billion Naira (N5,000,000,000.00) only, as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the grave injury occasioned to his hard-earned reputation, character and public standing by the said false, malicious and defamatory statements; and
“Deliver to us a written undertaking that you shall cease and desist from making, publishing, circulating or causing to be published any further false, malicious or defamatory statement concerning our Client.”
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would leave Obi with no option but to seek legal redress, including claims for damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction and legal costs.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Okonkwo doubled down on his allegations, publishing screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with a contact saved as “Obunike Ohaegbu”.
He maintained that Ohaegbu told him he had been scammed during the NDC primaries and that the party held Obi responsible for the scenario.
The Nollywood veteran added that Obi would be best served asking him for financial assistance for his 2027 presidential campaign instead of threatening a N5 billion lawsuit.
He dared Obi and his counsel to take the matter to court, writing that, “It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his Lawyers that I should pay him N5b. Hahaha!
“If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him. I did so when I was his Spokesperson paying for my flight tickets and booking for my hotel accommodation to some of our campaigns.
“I have not read the letter. Let me sound this note of warning, the Lawyers must take responsibility for any information I may have to divulge, which I acquired as a spokesperson, but which by my conscience I have not shared with anyone.
“My principle is that I do not use any confidential information I share with anyone against the person except the person who becomes unintelligent enough to tow the line of foolishness. Anyone who decides to sue his former Spokesperson for defamation is indeed very unwise.
“I will reply to the letter whenever I have the time to read it later in the day. Please send it here if you have it. It will be a shame to Peter Obi and his Lawyers if they do not take this case to court.”
