Veteran Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has boldly dismissed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit threat from his former principal, Peter Obi, escalating their once-close political relationship into a fierce public showdown.
The dramatic clash stems from allegations Okonkwo made during a Channels Television interview, where he accused Obi and South-East leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of demanding N10 million bribes from House of Representatives aspirants in exchange for tickets and positions.
In a pre-action letter sent on Tuesday, Peter Obi’s lawyers demanded that Okonkwo retract the claims, pay N5 billion in damages, and issue a public apology within seven days or face court action. Obi described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory, and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
Okonkwo laughed off the threat in his first public reaction, mocking the demand and suggesting Obi should have sought financial help directly instead of allegedly resorting to extortion.
Okonkwo maintained his stance and reportedly released what he described as evidence supporting his claims, including alleged WhatsApp communications with affected aspirants.
The two men share a long history. Kenneth Okonkwo served as Peter Obi’s spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign under the Labour Party before their relationship soured. Okonkwo later left the LP and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has become a vocal critic of his former boss.
As the seven-day ultimatum ticks, many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether Peter Obi will follow through with the lawsuit or if the matter will escalate further into more damaging public revelations from both sides.