BREAKING: Kenneth Okonkwo Publishes Alleged Evidence, Maintains Peter Obi, NDC Leaders Demanded Payments From Aspirants

Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has released what he described as documentary evidence to support his allegations that Peter Obi and some leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) were involved in demanding payments from aspirants seeking the party's tickets during its primary elections.

Okonkwo's latest disclosures come amid a pre-action notice from Obi's legal team threatening a N5 billion defamation lawsuit over comments he made during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily. During the interview, he alleged that House of Representatives aspirants were pressured to pay N10 million to secure party tickets.

In a series of posts shared on Wednesday, Okonkwo dismissed the legal threat and published excerpts of what he claimed were private conversations with Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant for the Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency.

According to Okonkwo, Ohaegbu had privately accused Obi of playing a central role in the alleged extortion scheme, despite reportedly softening his position in subsequent public appearances.

Quoting from the conversations he shared, Okonkwo said:

"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. Indeed, I asked him a question when we were discussing orally, '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.'"

Okonkwo also released chat excerpts purportedly showing Ohaegbu expressing dissatisfaction with the party's candidate selection process in Anambra State. According to him, the aspirant questioned the legitimacy of an alleged candidate list reportedly compiled at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja, claiming it included individuals who either lost the primaries or did not participate in them.

He further alleged that Ohaegbu specifically raised concerns about the inclusion of Senator Victor Umeh among the party's candidates despite claims that he did not emerge victorious in the primary election.

On the issue of alleged financial demands, Okonkwo claimed that Ohaegbu informed him that House of Representatives aspirants were asked to pay N10 million, while Senate aspirants were allegedly required to pay N20 million.

According to Okonkwo, when aspirants sought clarification from the party regarding who authorized the payments, they were allegedly directed to Peter Obi and certain caucus leaders in the state.

"Obunike Ohaegbu, when I questioned him to prove that Peter Obi was responsible for demanding the N10 million from him and other House of Representatives aspirants and N20 million from Senate aspirants, 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.

He also referenced earlier comments by Senator Seriake Dickson, who had reportedly maintained that aspirants are only required to pay for Expression of Interest forms under party guidelines, while additional nomination fees should only be paid by candidates who emerge victorious in the primaries.

Okonkwo called on anti-corruption agencies and security institutions to investigate the allegations and determine whether any financial impropriety occurred during the party's primary process.

"As a citizen and a lawyer, I have a duty to disclose every crime against the state that comes within my knowledge," he said.

"The appropriate security and anti-corruption agencies should immediately commence an investigation into this alleged fraud within the NDC and its leaders, with a view to ensuring that any aspirants found to have been defrauded are refunded."

Neither Peter Obi nor the NDC had publicly responded to Okonkwo's latest allegations as of the time of filing this report. The claims remain allegations and have not been proven in a court of law.