Peter Obi defamation claim escalates as he demands N5bn damages and apology from Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged remarks on live TV
ABUJA, Nigeria, Tuesday, June 10, 2026, former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has issued a formal defamation claim against actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo, demanding N5 billion in damages and a public apology over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview.
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Obi, through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Alex Ejesieme, said Okonkwo made false and damaging allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The lawyers stated that the comments were widely circulated across television broadcasts and online platforms, significantly amplifying their impact.
In a strongly worded letter dated June 9, 2026, the legal team accused Okonkwo of portraying Obi in a negative and criminal light.
The letter alleged that Okonkwo claimed Obi and South-East leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress instructed aspirants to pay bribes running into millions of naira to contest elections.
It further stated that Okonkwo allegedly suggested the existence of documentary evidence, accused Obi of compiling party lists from a hotel room, and described him as someone involved in financial misconduct and political manipulation.
According to the lawyers, the statements were “false, malicious, reckless and defamatory,” and had caused serious harm to Obi’s reputation and public standing.
The legal team demanded that Okonkwo retract the statements within seven days, publish an unequivocal apology, and ensure it receives equal or greater prominence than the original broadcast.
The demand also included a request for N5 billion in damages as compensation for reputational harm, alongside a written undertaking to desist from further publications deemed defamatory.
The letter warned that failure to comply would leave Obi with no option but to pursue legal action, including claims for damages, injunctive relief and legal costs.
In response, Okonkwo dismissed the demand in a post on his X account, describing the letter as circulating online before he had fully reviewed it.
He mocked the claim, suggesting that Obi should instead seek assistance privately if financial support was needed for political activities.
Okonkwo added that he would issue a formal response after reading the letter in full, while also stating that any legal action could lead to further disclosures from his time as Obi’s former spokesperson.
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The dispute has sparked widespread reactions online, intensifying political tensions around the ongoing public exchanges between both figures.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
