In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor and presidential flagbearer of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, has initiated legal proceedings against his erstwhile supporter and fellow townsman, Kenneth Okonkwo. The lawsuit, filed on June 9, 2026, through Obi’s legal representatives at Madiba Chambers led by Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, challenges what they describe as false and defamatory statements made by Okonkwo.
The legal action stems from Okonkwo’s public allegations during a television broadcast, where he claimed that Obi and other party leaders in the South-East demanded a bribe of N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants. Okonkwo, a Nollywood actor turned lawyer and politician, alleged that this illicit payment was required in addition to the official expression of interest fee. He further stated that documentary evidence existed, including a receipt for the payment, and accused Obi of personally compiling the party’s candidate list from a hotel room.
Obi’s legal team categorically denies these claims, labeling them as malicious and unfounded. The document obtained by our correspondent details the accusations: Okonkwo purportedly said that Obi warned aspirants of being scammed, travels abroad to collect money, and that the party leaders in the South-East are perpetuating criminality. In response, Obi’s lawyers assert that these statements are designed to tarnish their client’s reputation, portraying him as a fraudster, extortionist, and dishonest political actor.
The lawsuit demands an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the defamatory remarks, a public apology of equal prominence to the original broadcast across all social media platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, and a written undertaking to cease further defamatory statements. Additionally, the legal team is seeking financial compensation for the damage to Obi’s character and public standing.
This development comes shortly after Okonkwo left the African Democratic Congress and aligned himself with Atiku Abubakar, who secured the ADC presidential nomination for the 2027 elections. Okonkwo has been vocal in his criticism of Obi, reflecting the deepening rift within the opposition political landscape.