Okonkwo Defends Bribery Claim Against Peter Obi, Releases WhatsApp Chats, Bank Receipt

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has doubled down on his bribery allegations against the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, releasing purported WhatsApp conversations and a bank payment receipt which he claims support his assertions.

The development comes barely 24 hours after Obi’s legal team threatened legal action against the former actor-turned-politician over claims that the former Anambra State governor was involved in the collection of money from aspirants during the party’s candidate selection process.

Okonkwo had earlier alleged that House of Representatives aspirants were compelled to pay N10 million each, while senatorial aspirants paid N20 million, claiming the funds were collected under the authority of Obi and certain party leaders in the South-East.

According to him, one of the aspirants, Obunike Ohaegbu, supplied details of the transactions as well as documentary evidence allegedly linking the payments to the party’s internal nomination process.

The allegations prompted a sharp response from Obi, whose lawyers, led by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), issued a letter dated June 9, 2026, demanding N5 billion in damages and a public retraction of the statements. The legal team also warned that court proceedings would be initiated should Okonkwo fail to comply, adding that higher damages could be sought through litigation.

Responding on Wednesday through a series of posts on his X account, Okonkwo maintained that his allegations were credible and supported by information provided by Ohaegbu.

He stated that when he sought clarification on who authorised the alleged payments, Ohaegbu informed him that party officials had pointed to Obi and caucus leaders allegedly assembled by him.

“Obunike Ohaegbu, when I questioned him to prove that Peter Obi was responsible for demanding the N10m from him and other HOR aspirants and N20m 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,” Okonkwo wrote.

The former Labour Party spokesperson also published excerpts of what he described as private conversations with Ohaegbu, in which the aspirant expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party’s primary elections in Anambra State.

In the messages, Ohaegbu allegedly lamented that aspirants in the state were excluded from consultations and consensus-building efforts that reportedly took place in other parts of the country.

“My brother, the entire NDC project, at least from my personal experience, has left me feeling deceived and profoundly disappointed,” Ohaegbu was quoted as saying.

He further questioned how a purported list of candidates emerged despite the absence of any consensus meeting involving aspirants in Anambra State.

“Consequently, I mobilised my supporters and participated fully in the primary election process in the belief that the outcome would determine the party’s candidates. This naturally raises a fundamental question. If no consensus meeting was held with the aspirants in Anambra State, and no agreement was reached amongst those seeking nomination, my brother Ken, how did your friend arrive at the list of candidates that he allegedly produced at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja?” the message read.

Ohaegbu also challenged the legitimacy of the consensus process, arguing that genuine consensus could only result from consultation, negotiation and agreement among stakeholders.

“Consensus, by its very nature, requires consultation, negotiation and agreement amongst stakeholders. Where there is no consultation, no negotiation and no agreement, there can be no consensus. If aspirants were directed to participate in primaries while candidate lists were allegedly being prepared elsewhere, then serious questions arise about the integrity of the entire process. If that is not fraud, then the word fraud must have another meaning,” the message added.

Okonkwo also defended his decision to publicise the allegations, insisting that both his professional obligations as a lawyer and his civic responsibility required him to expose any wrongdoing brought to his attention.

“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 South-East people have suffered enough,” he stated.

He added: “No human being can again take them or any citizen of Nigeria for granted or perpetrate any fraud against them without challenge.”

The dispute has further deepened the rift between the two former political allies and is expected to move into the courts if both sides fail to reach a resolution. Obi has continued to deny the allegations, while Okonkwo insists the documents and communications he released substantiate his claims.