Peter Obi Did Not Ask Me to Pay N10 million – Ohaegbu Refutes Kenneth Okonkwo’s Claims

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives aspirant for Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Obunike Ohaegbu—also known as Nwa Miss—has denied allegations that link him to claims that Peter Obi defrauded aspirants during the party’s primary elections.

Nollywood actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo, who is a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused the NDC presidential candidate and other South‑East party leaders of accepting bribes during the recent primary elections in an interview on Channels Television.

Okonkwo said that Ohaegbu had sent him an “SOS message” revealing the alleged fraud surrounding the primaries’ results. He further claimed that anyone voting for Peter Obi and the NDC in 2027 was “voting for criminality,” adding, “Ohaegbu sent an SOS to me and said that Peter Obi is now the head of the criminality. That they were scammed in NDC.”

Responding to Okonkwo’s statements on Channels Television, Ohaegbu said he never told Okonkwo that he had met Peter Obi throughout the primary election process and that he had never discussed money with the former governor of Anambra State.

“First of all, was there any communication between me and Mr Kenneth Okonkwo? The answer is in the affirmative,” Ohaegbu said. “I have over 2000 people that I send everything I write to, including Kenneth Okonkwo, and also including His Excellency, Peter Obi.”

He explained that the message that sparked the controversy was a broadcast he sent to NDC members, which Peter Obi also received. “I said that they should disregard any rumor that suggests that any NDC members have been given an automatic ticket, because that is not what the party told us,” Ohaegbu added.

Ohaegbu noted that the member representing Peter Obi’s federal constituency was asked not to run, arguing that it would be unfair to other local governments. “It would be wrong to say that the person representing us, who has never been to my community and not even been to my home since the election, will have an automatic ticket,” he said.

He said that after the broadcast, Okonkwo called him. “Before I came here, I went for morning mass because I’m a Catholic. As I speak to you, the Holy Communion is still running in my vein. If I had ever said either through text or if Kenneth can show anywhere in that message, I said I met with Peter Obi throughout this process. I will apologise,” Ohaegbu said.

He said he had discussed the payment of nomination forms with the national secretary of the party, who he claims also promised him an automatic ticket. “As a matter of fact, the national secretary told me that all my discussions with him were in his capacity as the national secretary and he told me if I have problems, I should go back to the party, which I have actually done this morning. My lawyers will be filing papers against the party,” he said.

Ohaegbu denied that Peter Obi told him to pay N10 million for his campaign. “I never said I paid a bribe,” he said. “The N10 million I paid was paid to the account of the NDC, in Fidelity Bank. I never said I paid a bribe.” He added that the national secretary, not Peter Obi, was the only person who asked him to pay the amount.

He also denied claims that Peter Obi and others were writing the primary election results at John Wood Hotel in Abuja while the election was taking place.