Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has threatened to file a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against his former ally and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo. In a pre-action letter signed by his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Obi accused Okonkwo of making false and defamatory statements during an appearance on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily on Monday.
Obi and Okonkwo were previously political allies, both having been in the Labour Party before moving to the ADC. Obi later left the ADC for the NDC.
The Alleged Defamatory Statements
During the Channels TV program, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the South-east caucus of the NDC demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants in the party to secure tickets. Okonkwo specifically claimed that an NDC House of Representatives aspirant from Anambra State, Obunike Ohaegbu, sent a message and receipt alleging that Obi scammed him of N10 million. Okonkwo further claimed that Ohaegbu alleged that after he and other aspirants paid the bribe, they were asked to participate in primaries instead of being given tickets. Okonkwo also alleged that Obi, instead of ensuring credible primaries, stayed at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja and wrote a list of NDC candidates for various constituencies. He stated that anyone voting for the NDC and Obi was voting for criminality, arguing that the party had criminally extorted aspirants.
Ohaegbu Denies Allegations
However, Ohaegbu has denied making these statements. Appearing on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, he said, "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." Ohaegbu further stated that he never accused the NDC South-east caucus of bribery and did not say that Obi compiled a list of candidates at Johnwood Hotel. He clarified, "What I said is that there was an allegation that the list had been prepared in Johnwood. I didn't mention names."
Obi's Response and Demands
Obi refuted the claims, stating that the allegations portray him as a bribe collector, fraudster, and dishonest political actor engaged in criminal conspiracy. He described them as "extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality directed at the character, integrity, reputation and public standing of my person." Obi said Okonkwo made the allegations with the clear intent of exposing him to hatred, contempt, and ridicule, and damaging his reputation.
Obi demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the defamatory statements and publish an apology on Channels TV and across all his social media platforms within seven days. He also demanded payment of N5 billion through his legal team as general, aggravated, and exemplary damages for the grave injury to his reputation. Additionally, Obi asked Okonkwo to provide a written undertaking never to make such defamatory statements against him again.
The pre-action letter warned: "Take notice that should you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the above demands within the stipulated period, our client (Peter Obi) shall be left with no option than to seek legal redress against you without further recourse to you. Such action shall include, but shall not be limited to, claims for general, aggravated and exemplary damages in the said sum of N5 billion and indeed such a higher sum as the court may deem fit, together with injunctive reliefs, public retraction, apology and the full cost of the proceedings."
As of the time of this report, Okonkwo has not publicly responded to the letter.
