‘I won’t apologise, withdraw my claims’ Okonkwo fires back at Obi

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has rejected Peter Obi’s demand for a retraction and apology over allegations surrounding the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election process.

Okonkwo insisted that he would not withdraw comments he made during a recent appearance on Channels Television, maintaining that his claims were based on complaints brought to him by party aspirants and other sources.

The dispute arose after Okonkwo alleged on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily programme that some aspirants in the NDC were asked to pay money to secure party tickets.

The allegation prompted Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, to issue a pre-action notice through his lawyer, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), demanding a public retraction, apology and N5 billion in damages.

Obi described the claims as false, malicious and defamatory.

However, in a response dated June 16 and signed by his solicitors, Supreme God Chambers, Okonkwo denied defaming the former Anambra State governor.

“Our Client denies that he defamed your Client in any manner whatsoever and expressly asserts that his position on the issues he expressed reflects the true position of the matters so reflected,” the letter stated.

Okonkwo’s legal team said the comments were based on information allegedly provided by Obunike Ohaegbu, a House of Representatives aspirant in Anambra State, as well as other party members.

According to the lawyers, Ohaegbu approached Okonkwo seeking assistance in recovering N10 million he allegedly paid during the party’s nomination process.

The letter claimed the aspirant believed he had secured a ticket after making the payment but was later directed to participate in direct primaries.

Okonkwo’s lawyers also cited complaints allegedly made by other aspirants, including OAU Onyema, a former senatorial aspirant in Enugu State.

They argued that their client acted within his rights as a lawyer, politician and public affairs analyst by drawing attention to concerns raised by party members.

“Our Client stands by the truth of all he declared on Channels TV,” the lawyers said.

“The whole idea of his speaking on Channels TV was to expose transactional politics, ticket racketeering, extortion of aspirants, misleading representations, false pretence, undue influence and coercive pressure.”

The legal team further accused Obi’s camp of publishing Okonkwo’s personal telephone number after the pre-action letter was issued.

They described the action as a breach of privacy and alleged that it exposed their client to harassment and attacks.

The latest development signals a deepening rift between the former political allies, with neither side showing signs of backing down from the dispute over the NDC primary process.