Kenneth Okonkwo, a former ally and kinsman of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has released a screenshot of his private chat with Obunike Ohaegbu, an aspirant for the Nnewi North/Nnewi South Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the recently concluded NDC primaries. The chat, which Okonkwo made public, contains allegations by Ohaegbu that he was scammed by the party and that Obi was behind the collection of money from him and other aspirants.
This move comes as a direct response to the N5 billion lawsuit threat reportedly filed by Obi through his lawyer over defamation claims. According to Premium Times, a pre-action letter signed by Obi's lawyer, Alex Ejesieme, accused Okonkwo of making false and defamatory statements during his appearance as a guest on Channels TV on Monday, June 8.
Background of the Political Feud
Peter Obi and Kenneth Okonkwo were once close political allies. Okonkwo served as Obi's spokesperson during the 2023 presidential elections when Obi contested under the Labour Party. Both politicians later moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) together. However, Obi eventually left the ADC to join the NDC in pursuit of his presidential ambition, while Okonkwo remained in the ADC and has since become a campaigner for Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The release of the secret chats has intensified the political drama, with Okonkwo aiming to counter the defamation allegations by providing evidence of alleged misconduct within the NDC. The situation has drawn significant attention from political observers and the public, highlighting the deepening rift between the former allies.
