South‑East Forum Criticizes Obi Over N5 bn Defamation Lawsuit Against Kenneth Okonkwo

The South East Progressives Forum (SEPF) has publicly criticized Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi for filing a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against his former spokesman and ally, Kenneth Okonkwo.

In a statement signed by SEPF media head Paul Anigbogu and released on Monday, the forum accused Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, of attempting to intimidate and silence Okonkwo after the latter chose to support a different presidential candidate.

Obi’s legal team, led by SAN Alex Ejesieme, issued a pre‑action notice to Okonkwo on 9 June 2026, alleging that the former Nollywood figure had made malicious and defamatory remarks about the NDC candidate. The lawyers threatened to pursue a N5 billion defamation claim unless Okonkwo withdrew his allegations, paid compensation, and issued a public apology within seven days.

Okonkwo, through his own counsel, said he would not retract his statements, arguing that he had spoken after receiving briefings from NDC aspirants who claimed they were defrauded and extorted by the NDC caucus led by Obi.

SEPF condemned Obi for presenting himself as a democrat while simultaneously reacting with extreme sensitivity to criticism. The forum said the threat of a N5 billion lawsuit revealed Obi’s fear of criticism and his disregard for democratic values, particularly freedom of expression.

The statement also recalled Obi’s history of threatening legal action against critics, including media outlets. It cited an April 2023 incident in which Obi instructed his lawyers to take action against a media house over a leaked audio recording of a phone call with Bishop David Oyedepo. In 2025, Obi pursued a N1.5 billion lawsuit against lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, accusing him of publishing false and malicious comments on social media.

“Obi has a thin skin for criticism. He criticizes others but does not want to be criticized. What sort of democrat is that? He is simply a demagogue, appealing to emotions, prejudices, and fears rather than rational arguments or factual evidence,” the forum wrote.

SEPF added that Okonkwo’s remarks were not made in isolation; “Nigerians witnessed the transactional primary elections conducted by the NDC across the country, particularly in the South East. The NDC tickets were awarded to the highest bidder. The news is all over the media.” The forum said it would not tolerate Obi’s attempt to make Okonkwo a scapegoat.

The forum warned Obi that if he does not allow Okonkwo to remain free from legal harassment, it will begin revealing Obi’s autocratic conduct during his eight‑year tenure as governor of Anambra State. “We will expose how he stifled grassroots democracy by refusing to conduct local government elections and ran the councils with his cronies as caretaker committees until three months before the end of his term,” SEPF stated.