By Jane Okafor, Abuja
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said he may be compelled to disclose confidential information if former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, follows through with his threat to sue him for alleged defamation.
Okonkwo made the remarks in a series of posts on X on Tuesday while reacting to a demand letter reportedly issued by Obi and his lawyers seeking N5 billion in damages over comments made by the former spokesperson of Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
The latest exchange marks a deepening rift between the two former allies. Okonkwo served as one of the spokespersons for Obi’s Labour Party presidential campaign ahead of the 2023 general election.
The dispute stems from allegations made by Okonkwo during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, where he claimed that Obi and the South-East caucus of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) demanded bribes from aspirants seeking House of Representatives and Senate tickets under the party.
He specifically alleged that Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant in Anambra State, informed him that Obi had scammed him of N10 million.
However, Ohaegbu appeared on the same television programme on Tuesday and denied the allegation, explaining that the N10 million payment was made to the NDC’s bank account based on instructions from the party’s national secretary and not directly to Obi.
Following the interview, Obi threatened legal action against Okonkwo, demanding N5 billion “as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the grave injury occasioned to his hard-earned reputation.”
In response, Okonkwo published screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with a contact saved as “Obunike Ohaegbu” and maintained that Ohaegbu had told him he was scammed during the NDC primaries and that Obi was held responsible by members of the party.
The former Nollywood actor also mocked Obi’s demand for damages and challenged him to proceed with the lawsuit.
“It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his Lawyers that I should pay him N5b. Hahaha!,” Okonkwo wrote.
“If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him. I did so when I was his Spokesperson paying for my flight tickets and booking for my hotel accommodation to some of our campaigns.
“I have not read the letter. Let me sound this note of warning, the Lawyers must take responsibility for any information I may have to divulge, which I acquired as a spokesperson, but which by my conscience I have not shared with anyone.
“My principle is that I do not use any confidential information I share with anyone against the person except the person who becomes unintelligent enough to tow the line of foolishness. Anyone who decides to sue his former Spokesperson for defamation is indeed very unwise.
“I will reply to the letter whenever I have the time to read it later in the day. Please send it here if you have it. It will be a shame to Peter Obi and his Lawyers if they do not take this case to court.”
Neither Obi nor his legal team had publicly responded to Okonkwo’s latest comments as of the time of filing this report.
The unfolding dispute has intensified tensions between the former campaign allies and could set the stage for a legal showdown if Obi proceeds with the threatened lawsuit.
