A fresh political showdown has erupted between former Labour Party spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following a defamation suit filed against the actor-turned-politician.
Reacting publicly on Friday, Okonkwo dismissed Obi’s legal action, insisting he never defamed the former Anambra State governor. Instead, he accused Obi of making false claims and described him as someone who lacks a proper understanding of defamation law.
Speaking during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain argued that all his comments about Obi are already in the public domain and can be independently verified.
According to Okonkwo, a defamation suit can only be based on statements that have already been made, not on comments someone is yet to make. He maintained that Obi’s legal team should have properly advised him before initiating the action.
The former Labour Party ally further alleged that Obi is determined to undermine prominent figures from the South-East, claiming that he has repeatedly targeted rising political voices in the region.
Okonkwo also threw his weight behind the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who recently accused Obi of being a habitual liar. He questioned why Obi had not taken legal action against others who had made similar or even harsher remarks.
The exchange marks the latest escalation in the growing political rift between the two former allies as tensions continue to build ahead of the 2027 political season.
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