Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has filed an N8 billion defamation lawsuit against his former spokesperson and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo. The suit was filed at the Onitsha Judicial Division of the Anambra State High Court on Thursday, according to court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES.
Alleged defamatory remarks spark legal action
The lawsuit stems from a television interview Okonkwo granted on Channels TV on 8 June 2024. During the programme, Okonkwo alleged that Obi defrauded House of Representatives aspirants of N10 million each and unilaterally compiled a list of candidates for various federal constituencies in the South-east without conducting primaries. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, issued a pre-action notice on 9 June, demanding that Okonkwo withdraw the allegations, pay N5 billion in compensation, and tender a public apology within seven days.
Okonkwo, through his lawyer V. I. Uma, responded on 16 June, refusing to retract his statements. He claimed he spoke based on briefs from NDC aspirants who alleged they were defrauded and extorted by the NDC South-east caucus led by Obi.
Details of the lawsuit and demands
PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the writ of summons, dated 25 June and issued by Obi’s lawyer Alex Ejesieme, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The court endorsed the writ, authorizing service on Okonkwo in Enugu State, where he resides. In the suit marked 0/229/26, Obi is listed as the plaintiff and Okonkwo as the sole defendant.
In his statement of claim, Obi described Okonkwo’s allegations as “false, malicious, baseless and defamatory.” He demands N5 billion in general damages for injury to his reputation, character, integrity, public image, political standing, and goodwill. Additionally, Obi seeks N2 billion in aggravated damages due to the “manner, breadth, persistence, repetition of the publications,” including those made after the pre-action notice. He also requests N1 billion in exemplary damages for Okonkwo’s “deliberate repetition and amplification of the imputations.”
Obi further asks the court to order Okonkwo to publish a full retraction and apology on Channels TV, its YouTube channel, Okonkwo’s social media platforms, and three national newspapers within seven days of judgment. The retraction and apology should be prominently displayed and pinned to the top of his social media accounts for as long as they remain active. Obi also seeks an order directing Okonkwo to delete all defamatory statements from his social media accounts and websites, a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from circulating similar remarks, and costs of the suit with 10% annual post-judgment interest on all monetary awards until full payment.
Background of the political rift
Obi and Okonkwo were once political allies. Okonkwo served as Obi’s spokesperson while both were members of the Labour Party (LP), where Obi was the 2023 presidential candidate. Both politicians later defected to the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections, but Obi subsequently left for the NDC, where he emerged as its 2027 presidential candidate. Okonkwo, who had become a member of the ADC’s National Working Committee, has since become a vocal critic of Obi.
During the Channels TV programme, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the NDC South-east caucus demanded N10 million bribes from House of Representatives aspirants to secure tickets. He specifically named Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant for Nnewi North-South and Ekwusigo Constituency in Anambra, claiming Ohaegbu sent him a message and receipt alleging Obi scammed him of N10 million. Okonkwo further claimed that after paying, aspirants were sent to the field for primaries instead of receiving tickets, and that Obi compiled a candidate list from Johnwood Hotel in Abuja. He asserted that voting for the NDC and Obi meant voting for criminality.
However, Ohaegbu has denied making such statements. Appearing on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on 9 June, he stated, “I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay N10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay N10 million.” He also denied accusing the NDC South-east caucus of bribery or saying Obi compiled a candidate list. In a later interview, Ohaegbu described himself and Obi as “victims” of Okonkwo’s allegations.
Impact and next steps
The lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the political feud between the two former allies. Okonkwo has maintained his stance, attributing his comments to Ohaegbu despite the aspirant’s denial. The case is expected to proceed in the Anambra State High Court, with potential implications for the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
