I Won’t Retract Allegations Over NDC Ticket Controversy— Okonkwo Replies Peter Obi
A prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has firmly rejected demands by former governor Peter Obi to withdraw and apologise for allegations he made concerning the conduct of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary elections.
Okonkwo, through his legal representatives, insisted that the statements he made during a recent appearance on Channels Television were neither false nor defamatory, maintaining that they were based on complaints and information received from party aspirants and other sources.
The dispute arose after Okonkwo alleged during an interview on the programme Sunrise Daily that some aspirants seeking elective positions under the NDC were allegedly required to make payments in exchange for party tickets.
The remarks prompted Obi to issue a pre-action notice through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Alex Ejesieme, demanding an immediate retraction, a public apology and N5 billion in damages over what he described as damaging and unfounded allegations.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the NDC’s presidential candidate, argued that the claims were false, malicious and injurious to his reputation.
However, in a response dated June 16, Okonkwo’s solicitors, Supreme God Chambers, dismissed the allegations of defamation and declared that their client would not retract his statements.
“The kernel of your letter is that our Client defamed your Client through the interview on Channels Television on 8 June 2026,” the lawyers stated.
“Our Client denies that he defamed your Client in any manner whatsoever and expressly asserts that his position on the issues he expressed reflects the true position of the matters so reflected.”
According to the legal response, Okonkwo’s comments were informed by complaints allegedly brought before him by several party aspirants, including Obunike Ohaegbu, who contested for a House of Representatives ticket in Anambra State under the NDC platform.
The lawyers claimed that Ohaegbu had approached Okonkwo seeking assistance in recovering N10 million which he allegedly paid during the party’s nomination process.
They further alleged that Ohaegbu believed the payment guaranteed him the party ticket but was later informed that he would still have to participate in a direct primary election process.
The letter stated that the aggrieved aspirant blamed Obi for the development and encouraged Okonkwo to bring the matter into the public domain.
Okonkwo’s legal team also cited similar complaints allegedly raised by other party members, including OAU Onyema, a former senatorial aspirant from Enugu State.
According to the lawyers, several aspirants claimed to have paid substantial sums during screening and nomination exercises but later felt deceived or misled regarding the process.
Defending Okonkwo’s public comments, the lawyers argued that he acted within his constitutional rights as a legal practitioner, politician and public affairs commentator by drawing attention to issues brought to him by concerned party members.
“Our Client stands by the truth of all he declared on Channels TV,” the letter said.
“The whole idea of his speaking on Channels TV, which information he received from the aspirants, NDC, and other Nigerians, is to expose transactional politics, ticket racketeering, extortion of aspirants, misleading representations, false pretence, undue influence and coercive pressure.”
In a fresh twist, Okonkwo’s legal team also accused Obi’s supporters of circulating their client’s personal telephone number on social media following the issuance of the pre-action notice.
The lawyers described the publication as an invasion of privacy, alleging that it subjected Okonkwo to harassment, threats and unwarranted attacks from members of the public.