Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has issued a formal demand against actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo, seeking ₦5 billion in damages and a public apology for alleged defamatory remarks made during a live television interview.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s legal team led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN) accused Okonkwo of making false, malicious, and defamatory claims during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8. The remarks, according to the lawyers, were widely circulated across media outlets and online platforms, thereby aggravating the reputational harm.
The letter alleged that Okonkwo accused Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East of demanding ₦10 million bribes from aspirants seeking House of Representatives tickets, personally compiling candidate lists from a hotel room, scamming aspirants, collecting money from abroad, and engaging in criminal activities.
Obi’s lawyers described the statements as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact,” stressing that they went beyond political commentary and amounted to a direct assault on Obi’s integrity and public standing.
The demands include: Withdrawal of the statements and publication of an unequivocal apology with equal or greater prominence than the original broadcast. Payment of ₦5 billion damages for injury to Obi’s reputation, character, and public image. Written undertaking to desist from further defamatory publications.
The letter warned that failure to comply within seven days would compel Obi to seek legal redress, including damages, injunctive reliefs, retraction, and costs.
Okonkwo, in a response posted on his X handle, dismissed the demand, mocking Obi as a “hypocrite” and suggesting the claim was an attempt at extortion. He stated he had not yet read the letter but promised to reply formally later, adding that any lawsuit could expose sensitive information from his time as Obi’s spokesperson.
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