NEWS
Kenneth Okonkwo Releases Alleged Documentary Evidence, Renews Corruption Allegations Against Peter Obi, NDC Leaders
Renowned actor, lawyer, and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has intensified his corruption allegations against the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and other Southeast party leaders, releasing what he described as documentary evidence to support his claims.
Okonkwo maintained that several political aspirants were allegedly pressured into making illicit payments to secure party tickets during the NDC primary elections, insisting that his allegations are backed by conversations and documents in his possession.
The latest development comes days after Obi’s legal team issued a pre-litigation warning threatening a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit over allegations first made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. During the interview, Okonkwo alleged that House of Representatives aspirants were compelled to pay a ₦10 million bribe under Obi’s watch in order to secure party nominations.
However, in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday morning, Okonkwo dismissed the legal threat and instead escalated the controversy by revealing details of his private conversations with Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant for the Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency.
According to Okonkwo, although Ohaegbu later appeared in public to downplay the allegations against the party, his private communications allegedly painted a different picture. Okonkwo claimed the aspirant directly accused Obi of being the central figure behind what he described as an extortion scheme targeting party aspirants.
“In all honesty, I cannot even say everything this man told me about Peter Obi just to preserve the remaining of Peter Obi’s tattered reputation.
“Indeed, I asked him a question when we were discussing orally, ‘are you telling me that Peter Obi is the head of this criminal gang that defrauded you people?’ He answered ‘Peter Obi is the head, stomach, and feet of the criminal gang.’”
As part of his evidence, Okonkwo shared excerpts of chat messages allegedly exchanged with Ohaegbu. The conversations reportedly reflected the aspirant’s frustration with the conduct of the primary elections in Anambra State and raised concerns about a candidate list allegedly compiled by Obi at the Johnwood Hotel in Abuja.
According to Okonkwo, the aspirant questioned the legitimacy of the list, alleging that it contained names of individuals who either lost their primary elections or did not participate in the process at all. Among those mentioned was Senator Victor Umeh, whose inclusion allegedly became a source of controversy.
“Please tell me, if a person said that Peter Obi was writing list of aspirants in John Wood Hotel, Abuja, who didn’t win election in NDC, to become candidates for NDC, what else is criminality? He even stated clearly that Peter Obi wrote Senator Victor Umeh’s name as a candidate when he lost.”
The NDC Party chieftain also sought to substantiate his claims regarding the alleged financial demands imposed on aspirants. He pointed to what he described as a public statement from the party, claiming that when Ohaegbu sought clarification on the authority behind an additional ₦10 million fee for House of Representatives aspirants and ₦20 million fee for Senate aspirants, party officials allegedly referred him back to Obi’s state caucus.
“Obunike Ohaegbu, when I questioned him to prove that Peter Obi was responsible for demanding the ₦10m from him and other HoR aspirants and ₦20m from the Senate aspirants, he made it clear that when he confronted the Party on who authorised the payment, the party named Peter Obi and the caucus leaders who were assembled by Peter Obi.”
Further strengthening his argument, Okonkwo referenced previous comments made by Seriake Dickson, who had reportedly clarified that political aspirants are only legally required to pay for Expression of Interest forms. Under party regulations, nomination fees are expected to be paid only by duly verified winners of primary elections, making any financial demands before that stage potentially questionable.
The controversy has continued to generate reactions within political circles as both camps maintain opposing positions on the matter. While Obi’s legal team has challenged the allegations and threatened legal action, Okonkwo remains adamant that the claims are supported by evidence and deserve official scrutiny.
Calling for immediate intervention by relevant authorities, the actor-turned-politician urged anti-corruption agencies and security institutions to launch a comprehensive investigation into the NDC’s financial activities during the primary election period. He argued that such an inquiry would help determine the veracity of the allegations and potentially facilitate restitution for aspirants who may have suffered financial losses.
“Let me make it clear that as a citizen and a Lawyer, I have a duty to disclose every crime against the state that comes within my knowledge… The appropriate security agencies and anti-corruption agencies should immediately commence the investigation of this fraud by NDC and its leaders with a view to refunding the aspirants who were defrauded. According to Obunike Ohaegbu, Peter Obi is at the head of this fraud, according to NDC, and he must be investigated.”
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi and the leadership of the NDC had not publicly responded to the latest allegations and documentary claims released by Kenneth Okonkwo. The unfolding dispute is expected to further intensify political debates surrounding transparency, internal democracy, and acc
ountability within the party.