By Abigail David
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s legal team, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Okonkwo of making false and malicious allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8.
The lawyers said Okonkwo alleged that Obi and other NDC leaders demanded bribes from party aspirants and engaged in fraudulent and criminal activities. They described the claims as “false, baseless, malicious and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
According to the letter, the statements damaged Obi’s reputation by portraying him as a dishonest and corrupt political figure.
Obi is demanding that Okonkwo withdraw the allegations, issue an unequivocal public apology with similar or greater prominence than the original publication, pay N5 billion in general and exemplary damages, and provide a written undertaking to refrain from making further defamatory statements.
The legal team warned that failure to comply within seven days could lead to court action seeking damages, injunctive reliefs and legal costs.
Responding on his X account, Okonkwo dismissed the demand, saying he had yet to review the letter. He challenged Obi to pursue the matter in court and indicated he would formally respond after reading the document.
