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According to The Punch, Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over allegedly defamatory statements. Obi also warned that he could seek higher damages if the demands were not met.
Okonkwo responded on his X account on Tuesday, dismissing the claim. He said he had not yet read Obi’s letter but joked that if Obi needed campaign funds, he should ask directly rather than through “extortion.” He added he would respond formally after reviewing the letter and warned that any legal action could expose information he acquired as Obi’s former spokesperson.
“It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his lawyers that I should pay him N5bn. Hahaha! If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him,” he wrote.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Okonkwo of making false and malicious claims during an interview on Channels Television. The letter stated that Okonkwo allegedly accused Obi and NDC South-East leaders of demanding bribes from House of Representatives aspirants, compiling candidate lists from a hotel room, warning aspirants they would be scammed, collecting money abroad, and engaging in criminal activity.
Obi’s lawyers described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact,” arguing they attacked his integrity and public reputation.
