NEWS
Kenneth Okonkwo Accuses Peter Obi of Betrayal, Says Atiku Recognised His Value Despite Past Criticisms
Nollywood actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused his former principal and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of betraying him, while praising former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for recognising his worth despite his previous criticisms.
Okonkwo, who previously served as one of Obi’s closest allies and spokesperson in the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential campaign, made the remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday. His appearance came barely a day after he was appointed spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Explaining why he severed ties with Obi in 2024, Okonkwo said his decision was based on his conviction that the former Anambra State governor lacked the decisiveness needed to govern Nigeria effectively.
“As a public affairs analyst that I have been from 2009 before I ever met Peter Obi, I proceeded with my job. You were one of the earliest interviewers that interviewed me in July 2024 when I said I wasn’t speaking for him anymore because he’s not decisive.
“I’ve seen in him certain qualities that make him unfit to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I made it public. By then, I had finished my job with him.
“But in order for the people to know that I am not speaking for him anymore, I made it public, and I went my own way, and I was doing my own job,“ Okonkwo said.
“He was the one who betrayed me,” he added.
The former Labour Party spokesman contrasted Obi’s reaction to criticism with that of Atiku Abubakar, whom he described as a leader capable of overlooking personal attacks in pursuit of national development.
According to him, despite criticising Atiku on several occasions, the former vice president chose to focus on his potential contributions rather than his past comments.
“I talked about Atiku Abubakar here in this studio much more than I would even talk about Peter Obi. And people were telling Atiku Abubakar, ‘This young man that is getting close to you, are you aware of what he said to you?’
“Atiku Abubakar said, ‘I am looking at this young man, I am seeing the value in him, and his tenacity to bring about a great Nigeria. That is what I am seeing. And if I have the opportunity, I will bring him in to bring that value to Nigeria.’”
Okonkwo further described Atiku as a seasoned leader with an exceptional ability to identify and nurture talent, citing prominent Nigerians who have served under him.
“Look at a man, a talent discoverer that discovered Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that discovered Professor Charles Soludo, that discovered El-Rufai.
“What Atiku Abubakar is looking at is not what you said about him because he knows that his desire for Nigeria is not about him, but what value are you bringing in? I had not even done anything for Atiku Abubakar, but he insisted, ‘I’ve seen something in this young man.’”
His comments come against the backdrop of an ongoing legal dispute between him and Obi.
The disagreement stems from allegations made by Okonkwo, who publicly claimed that Obi and others collected bribes from House of Representatives aspirants.
Obi, through his legal representatives, dismissed the allegations as false, defamatory and damaging to his reputation. He subsequently demanded a public retraction, apology and N5 billion in damages.
Following Okonkwo’s failure to comply with the demand within the stipulated seven-day period, Obi instituted a defamation suit against him at the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha in June 2026.
Reacting to the lawsuit, the ADC chieftain described the legal action as unnecessary and accused Obi of targeting him after he had already left the party.
“When I talked against him, he did not go to Adamawa, he did not go to Jada to bring frivolous suit against me. But this is somebody I worked for, did everything, stayed in the court for months.
“And I am free, doing my job, and you are running to Onitsha to bring frivolous defamation suit against himself, not me.
“Who is now the betrayer? Who is disloyal? Assuming without conceding, assuming without conceding, I even did something wrong. So, that is how he would have treated me?” he said.
When asked whether Obi was within his legal rights to seek redress over the alleged defamatory statements, Okonkwo rejected the suggestion that he had defamed the former presidential candidate.
“‘Defaming’ is your word. Not mine. I sat down here, gave you the names of the people that told me things. I did not even say the way it is. I was still trying to shield…”
After the programme’s anchor noted that some of the individuals he referenced had denied making the allegations, Okonkwo maintained that he possessed documentary evidence to support his claims.
“When you have something written down, you know what the court says? You know what the law says? Oral evidence cannot be adduced to contradict a written document. I have them with me. At the appropriate time, everybody will go and answer for his crimes, for his offenses, and for his denials.
“And so, there is no defamation at all. I told you that a lot of people have said worse things about him. You know what he said? ‘No, I don’t want to sue them, they are faceless.’
“So, your intention is to destroy people who have faces? Your intention is to destroy any Southeast person, a bright person rising from the Southeast?
“So other people that are faceless, you won’t go after them, but the people that are adding value, you want to go after them? Bring him on. Let him come.”
Okonkwo served as one of Peter Obi’s spokespersons during the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party before ending their political alliance in 2024.
Following his departure from the Labour Party, both politicians joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, Obi later exited the coalition and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while Okonkwo remained in the ADC and has now emerged as spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential campaign.