Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The political fallout between former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi and his erstwhile ally Kenneth Okonkwo has escalated dramatically, with Obi’s legal team issuing a formal demand for an immediate withdrawal of alleged defamatory statements, a public apology, and ₦5 billion in damages. The pre‑litigation letter follows comments Okonkwo made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Monday, June 8, 2026, in which he accused Obi and leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South‑East of demanding a ₦10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants after they had paid the party’s prescribed expression of interest fees.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, and signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co. (Madiba Chambers), Obi described the allegations as false, malicious, reckless and defamatory. According to the legal document, Okonkwo is alleged to have stated during the broadcast that Obi and South‑East NDC leaders informed aspirants that any person seeking to contest for a House of Representatives seat must pay a bribe of ₦10 million in addition to the official fees. The lawyer‑turned‑politician also claimed that documentary evidence and receipts existed to support the allegation. Okonkwo further alleged that Obi personally wrote and compiled the list of the party’s candidates from his hotel room at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja, that he warned aspirants Obi would “scam” them, that Obi travels abroad to collect money from individuals, and that Obi and NDC leaders in the South‑East are perpetuating criminality.
In a counter‑move, Okonkwo released what he termed documentary evidence on Wednesday, June 10, including private chat logs with Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant for the Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency. Okonkwo shared excerpts in which Ohaegbu appeared to express frustration over the selection process, questioning the legitimacy of a candidate list allegedly compiled by Obi at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja. The chat logs showed Ohaegbu noting that the list included individuals who had lost or did not participate in the actual primary elections, such as Senator Victor Umeh. Okonkwo further quoted Ohaegbu as allegedly telling him during an oral conversation: “Peter Obi is the head, stomach, and feet of the criminal gang.”
However, in a separate interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Tuesday, June 9, Ohaegbu categorically denied making such statements to Okonkwo. “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 said. He also said he never accused the NDC South‑East caucus of bribery and never claimed that Obi compiled a list of candidates at Johnwood Hotel. “What I said is that there was an allegation that the list had been prepared in Johnwood. I didn’t mention names,” he added.
Obi’s legal team insisted that the allegations were false and baseless and had been made with the clear intent of injuring the former governor’s hard‑earned reputation. “The above statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, falsely and maliciously represent our Client as a person who demands, solicits, organises and collects bribes; who extorts, defrauds and swindles political aspirants of their money; who is a fraudster, a scammer and a dishonest political actor; and who, in concert with others, is engaged in criminal conspiracy and is actively perpetuating criminality,” the letter read.
The legal team gave Okonkwo seven days to comply with their demands, failing which the matter would be moved to court for claims of damages, injunctive reliefs, and litigation costs. Obi is seeking ₦5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged injury to his reputation.
Okonkwo, who was once Obi’s ally and served as spokesperson for the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council during the 2023 presidential election before defecting to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp ahead of the 2027 election, has stood his ground. “Let me make it clear that as a citizen and a Lawyer, I have a duty to disclose every crime against the state that comes within my knowledge,” Okonkwo said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, June 10. He called on anti‑corruption agencies to commence an investigation into the NDC’s financial administration. “The appropriate security agencies and anti‑corruption agencies should immediately commence the investigation of this fraud by NDC and its leaders with a view to refunding the aspirants who were defrauded. According to Obunike Ohaegbu, Peter Obi is at the head of this fraud, according to NDC, and he must be investigated.”
As the seven‑day ultimatum ticks, the legal battle that began as a war of words now carries the weight of possible court proceedings. For the millions of supporters who watched these two men campaign together in 2023, the sight of Obi’s lawyers addressing a former ally’s media handler is a painful reminder of how political ambition can turn yesterday’s brother into today’s adversary.
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