(Peter Obi. Photo Credit: X.com)
Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Anambra State governor, has taken legal action against his former loyalist and kinsman, Kenneth Okonkwo.
A legal notice dated June 9, 2026, signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co. (Madiba Chambers), described Okonkwo’s allegations as fabricated and damaging to his client’s reputation.
The Nollywood actor-turned-lawyer-and-politician had alleged that Peter Obi and other figures collected a bribe of N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants. Obi’s legal team, however, firmly rejected the claim as false.
According to the legal document, Okonkwo had stated, among other things, that Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East directed party aspirants to pay a N10 million bribe beyond the official expression of interest fee to the party and its caucus leaders.
He further alleged that documentary proof existed for the demand, that Obi personally compiled the list of party candidates from his hotel room at the Johnwood Hotel, that Obi was set to defraud the aspirants, that Obi travelled abroad to collect money from individuals, and that Obi and the NDC leadership in the South-East were engaged in criminal conduct.
Obi’s legal team firmly rejected the assertions, stating that the remarks falsely and maliciously portrayed their client as someone who solicits bribes, extorts political aspirants, and engages in criminal conspiracy descriptions they called extremely grave and reckless.
The chambers further noted that the statements were made on live television and subsequently spread widely across social media, compounding the damage to Obi’s reputation.
They maintained that freedom of expression does not extend to the reckless destruction of another person’s character.
Among the demands issued, Okonkwo was asked to immediately retract the statements in full and issue a clear, unreserved public apology to Obi, with the apology given equal prominence to the original broadcast and shared across his social media handles.
The legal team also demanded a written undertaking that he would refrain from making further defamatory statements, as well as financial compensation.
The development follows days of public attacks by Okonkwo against Obi after he severed ties with the African Democratic Congress.
Okonkwo has publicly backed the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the ADC flagbearer ahead of the 2027 general elections.
