BREAKING: Kenneth Okonkwo Releases Alleged Evidence, Insists Obi, NDC Leaders Demanded Payments From Aspirants

Abuja, 10 June 2026 — Renowned actor, lawyer and politician Kenneth Okonkwo has released what he described as documentary evidence to back corruption allegations against Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi and other Southeast party leaders.

Okonkwo claims aspirants were pressured to make illicit payments to secure tickets during the party’s primary elections, doubling down on earlier statements he made on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

Evidence and Allegations

The disclosure comes after Obi’s legal team issued a pre-litigation warning threatening a ₦5 billion defamation suit over Okonkwo’s claims. In the TV interview, Okonkwo alleged that House of Representatives aspirants were coerced into paying a ₦10 million bribe under Obi’s watch.

Responding on Wednesday via posts on X, formerly Twitter, Okonkwo dismissed the legal threat and published excerpts of private chats with Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant for Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency.

Although Ohaegbu later downplayed his accusations in media interviews, Okonkwo insisted the aspirant had privately described Obi as the “chief coordinator” of an extortion scheme.

“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,” Okonkwo wrote. “I asked him, ‘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.’”

Claims on Candidate List and Payments  

Okonkwo shared screenshots showing Ohaegbu’s frustration with the selection process in Anambra State. The chats allege that a candidate list was compiled by Obi at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja, including names of individuals who lost or did not participate in the primaries, such as Senator Victor Umeh.

“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,” one message read.

To support claims of illegal financial demands, Okonkwo referenced a public statement from the party. He said when Ohaegbu questioned the NDC over additional fees of ₦10 million for House seats and ₦20 million for Senate seats, the national secretariat referred them to Obi’s state caucus.

“Obunike Ohaegbu made it clear that when he confronted the Party on who authorised the payment, the party named Peter Obi and the caucus leaders assembled by Peter Obi,” Okonkwo stated.

Legal and Party Rules Cited 

Okonkwo cited remarks by Senator Seriake Dickson, who said political aspirants are legally required to pay only for Expression of Interest forms. According to party guidelines, only verified primary winners should make nomination payments, making any pre-primary financial demands illegitimate.

Call for Investigation  

The former Labour Party spokesman urged anti-graft and security agencies to probe the NDC’s financial administration during the primaries. He said his disclosures are aimed at securing refunds for aspirants who lost money.

“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,” he wrote.

Reactions Pending

As of press time, Peter Obi, the NDC national secretariat, and Senator Victor Umeh had not issued fresh responses to the latest evidence released by Okonkwo. Obi’s legal team had earlier threatened defamation action over the initial allegations.

The NDC has not commented on the authenticity of the chat screenshots or the claims about the Johnwood Hotel meeting.