By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from lawyer and former actor Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s lawyer, Alexander Chukwudi Ejebieme (SAN), accused Okonkwo of making false, malicious and defamatory allegations against the former governor during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8.
According to the letter, Okonkwo allegedly claimed that Obi and leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded a N10 million bribe from aspirants seeking to contest for seats in the House of Representatives after paying the party’s expression of interest fee.
The legal team further alleged that Okonkwo stated that documentary evidence and receipts existed to support the claim, and that Obi personally compiled the party’s list of candidates from a hotel room at Johnwood Hotel.
Other statements cited in the letter include allegations that Obi would “scam” aspirants, that he travelled abroad to collect money from individuals, and that he and South-East NDC leaders were involved in criminal activities.
Obi’s lawyers described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless and defamatory,” arguing that they portrayed their client as a fraudster, extortionist, scammer and participant in criminal conspiracy.
“The above statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, falsely and maliciously represent our client as a person who demands, solicits, organises and collects bribes; who extorts, defrauds and swindles political aspirants of their money,” the letter stated.
The legal team maintained that the remarks had caused serious damage to Obi’s reputation and public standing, especially because they were made on a live television programme and subsequently circulated across various media and social media platforms.
Consequently, Obi’s lawyers demanded that Okonkwo, within seven days of receiving the letter, withdraw the statements, issue an unequivocal public apology, and publish the retraction through the same channels where the allegations were circulated.
They also requested that the apology receive equal or greater prominence than the original statements and demanded payment of N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged injury to Obi’s reputation.
In addition, the former presidential candidate is seeking a written undertaking from Okonkwo that he will refrain from making or publishing further allegedly defamatory statements against him.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would leave Obi with no option but to institute legal proceedings, including claims for damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction and the cost of litigation.
As of the time of filing this report, Okonkwo had not publicly responded to the allegations or the demands contained in the letter.