Author: Gabby

Veteran Nollywood actor and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo has stepped up his accusations against Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that security and anti-corruption agencies must probe bribery allegations involving party aspirants.

Okonkwo’s latest remarks follow Obi’s legal action against his former ally, who alleged that NDC leaders demanded N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants. In a statement on Wednesday, Okonkwo said he had a civic and professional duty to expose wrongdoing.

The actor-turned-politician claimed that multiple aspirants in the South-East were victims of fraud and should receive refunds. He pointed to Obunike Ohaegbu, an aspirant who accused NDC leaders of collecting money in violation of party guidelines.

Okonkwo cited Senator Seriake Dickson, who reportedly stated that aspirants should only pay for expression of interest forms, with nomination fees required solely from primary winners. Any extra payment, Okonkwo argued, constitutes corruption.

Obi’s legal team, led by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), sent a letter on June 9, 2026, demanding a retraction, apology, and compensation, calling the allegations false and defamatory. They denied claims that Obi compiled the candidate list or engaged in fraud.

Despite the legal threat, Okonkwo remains firm, urging authorities to investigate. He said, “The South-East people have suffered enough. No human being can take them for granted or perpetrate fraud against them without challenge. Obunike is just one of many who have been scammed by NDC leaders.”

Okonkwo added, “Senator Seriake Dickson made it clear that aspirants should only pay for expression of interest forms. Any payment beyond that is corrupt. If Obunike Ohaegbu and others were not primary winners, then Peter Obi and the NDC must refund them immediately.”

The dispute marks a deepening rift between Obi and Okonkwo, who was once a staunch supporter but has since aligned with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 election.

The Director of Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has emphasized that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), must broaden his political footprint in Northern Nigeria for success. During an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, Amadi discussed the upcoming general elections. He noted that the Obi-Kwankwaso joint ticket would pose a significant challenge to Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). According to Amadi, selecting Rabi’u Kwankwaso as a running mate shows that Obi’s priority is to extend his electoral reach in the north. He acknowledged that this would be tough given Atiku’s presence and associated controversies, but that is the nature of politics. For now, we will see strategies shaped by political narratives rather than deep resistance. The coming period will feature crafted messages to influence election outcomes, and as campaigns begin, we may witness an escalation of hate speech, Amadi added.

Public affairs analyst Sumner Sambo has argued that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) must entrust Rabi’u Kwankwaso with leadership of party structures in Kano State. Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Tuesday, Sambo emphasized that Kwankwaso, rather than the candidates, has been the driving force behind electoral victories for parties he has been part of.

Sambo urged NDC’s 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi to collaborate with party national leader Seriake Dickson to reorganize the party ahead of next year’s general elections. He noted that the ongoing challenges in Kano should not have arisen, as Kwankwaso’s influence should have been leveraged to maintain stability.

According to Sambo, Kwankwaso’s political leverage is crucial, and Obi needs to engage directly with party affairs rather than remaining on the sidelines with Dickson. He stressed that Kwankwaso’s role has been instrumental in past electoral successes, and his leadership is essential for the party’s progress in Kano.

In a recent statement that has stirred political discourse, Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has openly criticized the administration led by President Bola Tinubu. He argues that the widespread hardship experienced by Nigerians is not an inescapable destiny but a direct outcome of ineffective governance and misguided policies.

Taking to his official X handle on Tuesday, Adebayo emphasized that poverty should not be viewed as Nigeria’s predetermined condition. Instead, he pointed out that it stems from policy missteps and poor leadership. According to him, the nation can turn its economic situation around by adopting a government that prioritizes the right strategies and deliberate planning.

The SDP chieftain highlighted that despite three years of economic reforms under the current administration, millions of citizens continue to grapple with escalating difficulties and diminished purchasing power. He stated, “Poverty is not Nigeria’s destiny. It is the result of failed leadership and it can be defeated with the right government, the right priorities and the right plan.” His remarks underscore a growing frustration among political figures and the populace regarding the pace and direction of economic recovery efforts.

The Federal High Court in Gusau has commenced proceedings in a pre-election case brought by Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, an APC aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial district, who contests his omission from the party’s primary election. Presiding Judge Hassan Dikko is handling the matter.

The suit lists the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura as defendants. Shinkafi seeks a court order to nullify the senatorial primary, arguing that his exclusion was unlawful and unjust.

During the Tuesday mention, the case encountered delays due to unresolved questions regarding INEC’s involvement. The judge adjourned proceedings to June 25 and instructed INEC to appear while directing all parties to exchange legal documents before the next hearing.

Bello Galadi, the plaintiff’s attorney, expressed optimism about the case’s merits, emphasizing that the court would deliver fair judgment. Meanwhile, Jaysey Sharka, representing Senator Kaura, acknowledged that the matter remains in the hearing phase.

On Tuesday, a large group of All Progressives Congress (APC) members gathered at the party’s Lagos State Secretariat in Ikeja to demand the cancellation of primary election results from several constituencies, citing widespread irregularities. The protesters, representing areas such as Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, and Somolu Constituency II, called on the party leadership to investigate complaints arising from the recently concluded primaries for the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly.

The APC held its legislative primaries in May and subsequently announced the names of successful candidates. However, many aspirants and party members continue to challenge the outcomes, insisting that the published results do not reflect the true will of party members expressed during direct primaries. The protesters urged the party’s leadership and relevant appeal panels to review the conduct of the elections and address what they described as widespread procedural violations.

One of the petitioners, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, an aspirant for the House of Representatives in Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, challenged the primary outcome. He alleged that the exercise across the constituency’s 11 wards was marred by significant procedural breaches, including the absence of an official membership register during accreditation. He further claimed that accreditation was conducted using unverified APC slips. Adewale called on the appeal committee to thoroughly investigate the accreditation and voting processes and nullify the election result.

Similarly, Mr. David Doherty, a House of Assembly aspirant for Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, criticized the transparency of the exercise, alleging that aspirants were excluded from critical decisions leading up to the election. He also reported that armed individuals disrupted voting in some riverine communities by firing gunshots, causing party members to flee. Doherty demanded the cancellation of the constituency’s results and sanctions against anyone found guilty of electoral misconduct or violence.

In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, petitioners alleged widespread irregularities, including result manipulation, improper collation procedures, and breaches of electoral guidelines. They claimed that some electoral officials failed to appear at designated collation centers and that certain results were altered. They also alleged vote inflation in some wards and a lack of proper accreditation. The petitioners requested a verification of ward-level results and a forensic review of disputed result sheets and signatures.

Speaking on behalf of protesters from Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Prince Hakeem Ola described the alleged treatment of Doherty as unfair and unacceptable. He maintained that party members should be allowed to freely choose their representatives through a transparent and credible democratic process. Ola alleged that Doherty emerged victorious in the primary but that some party leaders were attempting to overturn the outcome.

Another protester from Agege Local Government Area, Mr. Oluwasola Olugbemi, warned against efforts to impose candidates on party members, arguing that ignoring the preferences of members undermines democratic values and weakens confidence in the electoral process. Protesters from Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I and Somolu Constituency II also submitted petitions alleging attempts to alter the results of their respective primaries. They appealed to the party leadership to uphold the results already forwarded to the APC National Secretariat, insisting that the credibility of the party’s internal democracy was at stake.

Despite morning rainfall, the protesters gathered outside the party secretariat, chanting solidarity songs and demanding action on their grievances. Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the APC dismissed social media reports claiming that the state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, was harassed during the protest. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mrs. Omobola Akingbehin, the party clarified that Ojelabi was not at the secretariat when the protest occurred. Akingbehin stated that while the party respects members’ constitutional right to express grievances through lawful means, such actions should be carried out responsibly. She noted that the primary election process has been concluded and that established internal mechanisms exist for resolving disputes. The party encouraged aggrieved members to use the appropriate channels in the interest of unity and fairness. Akingbehin also urged the public to disregard misleading reports and rely only on official party communications.

Veteran Nollywood actor and political figure, Kenneth Okonkwo, has ridiculed Peter Obi over reports that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate is seeking N5 billion in damages for alleged defamation. In a post on X on Wednesday, Okonkwo mocked the legal move, implying that Obi is using it to raise money for political campaigns.

Okonkwo, who previously served as Obi’s campaign spokesman, stated that if Obi requires funds for political activities, he should approach him directly rather than resorting to what Okonkwo termed extortion. He said: “I’ve been informed about a letter circulating online from the hypocrite Peter Obi and his lawyers demanding N5 billion from me. Hahaha! If Peter Obi needs campaign funds, he should privately ask me for support instead of trying to extort me. I even covered my own expenses during my time as his spokesperson, paying for flight tickets and hotel bookings for campaign trips.”

The actor-turned-politician added that he hasn’t yet read the legal letter but cautioned that any legal proceedings could force him to reveal confidential information he obtained while working as Obi’s spokesperson. He noted that he has refrained from sharing such details out of principle, but that could change if the matter goes to court. Okonkwo challenged Obi and his legal team to proceed with the case, asserting that he is ready to respond after reviewing the letter.

A prominent community figure in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, has appealed for calm in the face of the ongoing crisis triggered by the Supreme Court’s order for the delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency. His plea comes after a protest by Ijaw women on June 8 led to the shutdown of 13 flow stations in the Gbaramatu Kingdom.

In a statement released to journalists in Warri, Ekpemupolo emphasized the Ijaw people’s historic commitment to peace, urging that this legacy not be tarnished by the current political turmoil. He warned against allowing the situation, which stems from INEC’s failure to complete ward delineation in the constituency, to escalate into violence.

Ekpemupolo called for an urgent meeting of community leaders to chart a path forward and stressed the need for INEC to act decisively to restore tranquility. He appealed to all ethnic groups in Warri—Ijaw, Itsekiri, and Urhobo—to exercise patience and await INEC’s compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The indigenous Ijaw women have vowed to occupy the oil facilities until INEC implements the court’s judgment on the creation of wards and polling units, raising tensions in the oil-rich region.