Published: June 26, 2026
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has officially served a writ of summons on actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo in a high-stakes defamation suit filed at the High Court of Anambra State, Onitsha Judicial Division .
According to court documents dated June 25, 2026, Obi is seeking a total of N8 billion in damages over remarks Okonkwo allegedly made during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026. The comments were subsequently circulated across social media platforms .
Details of the Lawsuit
The legal action, pursued on Obi’s behalf by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) of Madiba Chambers, comes after weeks of escalating tension between the two former political allies . The dispute originated from Okonkwo's allegations that Obi and NDC leaders demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants and that Obi personally compiled the party's candidate list outside the formal primary process .
The writ, marked suit number 0/229/26, has been authorized for service on Okonkwo at his residence in Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State. He has been directed to enter an appearance within 42 days of being served or risk a default judgment being entered against him .
Monetary Claims
In the suit, Obi contends that the comments made by Okonkwo were false, malicious, and defamatory. The financial claims are broken down as follows:
· N5 billion in general damages for injury to his reputation, character, integrity, public image, political standing, and goodwill .
· N2 billion in aggravated damages, citing the breadth and persistence of the publications, including statements made after Obi’s lawyers issued a pre-action demand letter on June 9, 2026 .
· N1 billion in exemplary damages, arguing that Okonkwo deliberately repeated and amplified the allegations despite being formally notified of the complaint .
Court Orders Sought
Beyond monetary compensation, Obi is seeking several court orders, including:
· A directive compelling Okonkwo to publish a full retraction and apology on Channels Television, its YouTube platform, his social media accounts, and in three national newspapers .
· An order for the removal of all publications containing the disputed allegations from platforms under Okonkwo’s control .
· A perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from making similar allegations in the future .
· Post-judgment interest of 10% per annum on any monetary award until full payment, along with the costs of the action .
Background
Messrs. Obi and Okonkwo were once close political allies, with Okonkwo serving as a spokesperson for Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign. However, their relationship deteriorated after the 2023 elections, with Okonkwo becoming a vocal critic of Obi’s political decisions, especially after Obi left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the NDC .
In his response to Obi's pre-action notice, Okonkwo rejected the defamation claims, insisting his comments were based on information provided directly by an aggrieved NDC aspirant. He also accused Obi of attempting to "distract and cow him" from exposing alleged political wrongdoing .
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