Veteran Nollywood actor, turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, appears to have stirred controversy following his allegations against his former ally and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
Okonkwo accused Obi and some NDC leaders in the South-East of demanding money from aspirants seeking the party’s tickets to contest legislative elections.
He made the claims during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, June 8, 2026.
However, Peter Obi, in a letter by his legal team led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), dated June 9, 2026, stated that Okonkwo allegedly claimed that “Obi, together with the leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East, informed the party’s aspirants that any person seeking to contest as a member of the House of Representatives must, after paying the prescribed expression of interest fee, pay a bribe of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00) to the NDC and to the Caucus leaders.”
“The above statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, and by necessary implication, 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; who is a fraudster, a scammer and a dishonest political actor; and who, in concert with others, is engaged in criminal conspiracy and is actively perpetuating criminality.”
“The allegations is false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
“Pay to our Client, through our Chambers, the sum of Five Billion Naira (N5,000,000,000.00) only, as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the grave injury occasioned to his hard-earned reputation, character and public standing by the said false, malicious and defamatory statements; and“
“Deliver to us a written undertaking that you shall cease and desist from making, publishing, circulating or causing to be published any further false, malicious or defamatory statement concerning our Client.”
“Take notice that should you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the above demands within the stipulated period, our Client shall be left with no option but to seek legal redress against you without further recourse to you.” the letter stated
