By Opeyemi Adelakun
The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has instituted a defamation suit against politician and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo before the High Court of Justice in Anambra State over allegations of bribery and irregularities in the party’s candidate selection process.
The suit, filed in the Onitsha Judicial Division, was initiated with the issuance of a writ of summons dated June 25, 2026.
According to court documents, Obi is seeking a total of N8 billion in damages, a public apology, and a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from making or publishing similar allegations in the future.
The dispute stems from comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026. During the interview, he reportedly claimed that Obi and other party leaders collected N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants seeking party tickets and influenced the selection of candidates outside the official primary election process.
Obi, through his legal team led by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), issued a seven-day demand notice on June 9, requesting a retraction and public apology. The letter warned that legal action would follow if the demands were ignored.
Following Okonkwo’s alleged refusal to retract the statements, Obi proceeded with the lawsuit.
The suit seeks N5 billion as general damages for alleged injury to Obi’s reputation, integrity and political standing, N2 billion as aggravated damages, and N1 billion as exemplary damages, citing the repeated publication of the allegations on social media platforms.
Obi is also asking the court to compel Okonkwo to publish an unreserved apology on Channels Television, his social media accounts, and in three national newspapers.
In addition, the suit requests a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo, his agents or associates from making or circulating any further statements alleging bribery, fraud, scam or other criminal conduct against Obi.
Obi said he decided to seek judicial intervention because allegations of such gravity should be determined in court rather than through media exchanges, particularly after Okonkwo reportedly suggested he possessed additional information that would be disclosed in the future.
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