Obi sues ex-spokesman Kenneth Okonkwo for N8bn over alleged defamation

Peter Obi, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 poll, has filed an N8 billion defamation suit against his former spokesperson and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, over allegations that he extorted and defrauded House of Representatives aspirants seeking the party’s tickets.

The suit, filed at the Onitsha Judicial Division of the Anambra State High Court, marks the latest escalation in the bitter fallout between the former political allies.

Obi is asking the court to award him N5 billion in general damages, N2 billion in aggravated damages, and N1 billion in exemplary damages, arguing that Okonkwo’s statements severely damaged his reputation, integrity, political standing, and goodwill.

The legal action followed comments made by Okonkwo during a Channels Television programme on June 8, in which he alleged that Obi and the NDC South-East caucus collected N10 million each from House of Representatives aspirants while manipulating the party’s candidate selection process.

Obi had, through his lawyer, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), issued a pre-action notice demanding a retraction, public apology, and N5 billion compensation within seven days. However, Okonkwo, through his counsel, declined to withdraw the allegations, insisting he stood by his claims.

In the writ of summons, Obi described the allegations as “false, malicious, baseless and defamatory,” seeking a court order compelling Okonkwo to publish an unequivocal apology on Channels Television, his social media platforms and three national newspapers, delete all defamatory publications and refrain from making similar statements in future.

The suit also seeks the cost of litigation and post-judgement interest on any monetary award granted by the court.

The dispute stems from Okonkwo’s claim that aspirants paid N10 million for automatic tickets but were later directed to participate in party primaries instead. He also alleged that Obi personally compiled the list of NDC candidates from a hotel in Abuja.

However, one of the aspirants cited by Okonkwo, Obunike Ohaegbu, has publicly denied making the allegations, insisting Obi neither demanded nor received N10 million from him and that both he and the former Anambra governor were victims of false claims.

The lawsuit underscores the deepening political and legal rift between Obi and Okonkwo, who worked closely during the 2023 presidential election but have since parted ways following Obi’s exit from the ADC to emerge as the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.