Alleged Defamation: Obi Insists on Legal Action Against Okonkwo

Former NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stated that he will not withdraw the defamation lawsuit filed against ADC chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo over allegations relating to the conduct of party primary elections.

Obi made the declaration during an interview on Nevon Media, where he addressed claims previously made by Okonkwo concerning the selection of candidates and the conduct of primary elections.

The dispute began after Okonkwo, a lawyer and former actor turned politician, alleged during a television appearance that some House of Representatives aspirants were compelled to pay large sums of money to secure party tickets. He further claimed that certain candidates who either did not participate in, or did not win, the primaries were later selected through a separate process.

The allegations also linked Obi to the claimed activities, with Okonkwo accusing him of playing a central role in the events he described.

Responding to the accusations, Obi maintained that the matter had gone beyond ordinary political criticism. He said his decision to seek legal redress was influenced not only by the allegations already made but also by statements suggesting that more accusations would be revealed in the future.

According to Obi, the courtroom provides the proper avenue for examining such claims. He said anyone with evidence of wrongdoing against him should present it before the court, where the issues can be openly addressed and determined through legal processes.

The former Anambra State governor insisted that the legal action would proceed, adding that the case offers an opportunity for all allegations against him to be fully scrutinised in a formal setting.

The development marks a new phase in the growing disagreement between the two politicians, both of whom were previously associated within the same political movement before recent political realignments.

With Obi standing by his decision to pursue the case, attention is now expected to shift to the courts, where the allegations and counterclaims will be examined through the judicial process.