The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has issued a demand for ₦5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a televised interview.
Obi, through his legal team, also warned that legal proceedings would be initiated if the demands are not met within the stipulated time.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, and signed by senior advocate Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Obi’s lawyers accused Okonkwo of making false and damaging statements during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Sunrise Daily* on June 8.
The lawyers said the comments were widely circulated across media platforms and social media, further amplifying the alleged defamation.
According to the letter, Okonkwo claimed that Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East demanded that aspirants for House of Representatives tickets pay an additional ₦10 million as bribe after paying official nomination fees.
He was also accused of alleging that there were documentary proofs of the payments, that Obi personally supervised candidate selection from a hotel room, and that he warned aspirants of being “scammed” while engaging in fraudulent financial dealings.
The legal team further stated that Okonkwo portrayed Obi as being involved in bribery, extortion, fraud, and other forms of criminal conduct, claims they described as false and malicious.
They argued that the statements amounted to a direct attack on Obi’s integrity, reputation, and public standing, stressing that such allegations went beyond political criticism.
The lawyers demanded that Okonkwo retract the statements, publish an unreserved apology, and ensure the apology receives equal or greater visibility than the original broadcast.
They also insisted on payment of ₦5 billion as compensation for reputational damage and an undertaking to stop further publication of similar claims.
The letter warned that failure to comply would leave Obi with no choice but to pursue legal action, including claims for damages, injunctions, and other reliefs.
In response, Okonkwo, in a post on his X handle, dismissed the demand, describing it as unnecessary and stating that he had not fully reviewed the letter.
He added that he would respond formally after reading it, while also insisting that Obi should proceed to court if he believes he has a case.
Okonkwo further warned that any legal action might expose sensitive information gathered during his time as Obi’s spokesperson, maintaining that he was not intimidated by the threat of a lawsuit.