South-East Forum slams Obi over N5bn defamation suit against Kenneth Okonkwo

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

The Forum, in a statement signed by head of its media unit, Paul Anigbogu, on Monday, accused the former Anambra State governor of attempting to intimidate and silence Okonkwo for leaving him to align with another presidential candidate.

Recall that Obi’s lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme, SAN had sent a pre-action notice to Okonkwo on June 9, 2026, accusing him of making malicious and defamatory remarks against the NDC presidential candidate.

Obi’s lawyers who claimed that the remarks made by Okonkwo damaged the reputation of their client, threatened to file N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the former Nollywood if he failed to withdraw his allegations against the NDC presidential candidate, pay N5 billion compensation and tender a public apology within seven days.

Replying through his own lawyers, Okonkwo said he would not retract his words, maintaining that he spoke after receiving briefs from NDC aspirants who were defrauded and extorted by the NDC caucus headed by Obi.

Speaking on the development, SEPF lambasted the NDC presidential candidate for parading himself on the one hand as a democrat, but on the other hand, overly sensitive and easily offended when criticized by opponents.

According to the group, the threat by Obi to sue his former spokesman for N5 billion has shown his phobia for criticism and deep aversion for democratic values, especially freedom of expression.

Condemning Obi’s latest move to sue Okonkwo, SEPF recalled that he has an infamous history of threatening legal action against persons who criticize him, including media houses.

Parts of the statement read, “In April 2023, he issued instructions to his lawyers against a media house over leaked audio recording of his phone call with Bishop David Oyedepo. This was not the only time that he did so.

“In 2025, he also threatened and subsequently pursued a N1.5 billion lawsuit against lawyer/ activist, Deji Adeyanju, alleging that Deji used his social media platforms to publish false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless and scandalous comments against him.

“Obi has 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. He wants to gain power by appealing to people’s emotions, prejudices and fears, rather than by using rational arguments or factual evidence.

“Kenneth Okonkwo did not just speak, people briefed him. Nigerians are not blind. Nigerians witnessed the transactional primary elections conducted by NDC across the country, particularly in the South East. The NDC tickets were for the highest bidder. The news is all over the media. Obi thinks that he can make Kenneth Okonkwo the scapegoat, but we will not tolerate that.”  

The Forum warned Obi to allow Kenneth Okonkwo be, or else, it would start revealing to Nigerians one after the other, all his autocratic antecedents the only time he held public office in Nigeria as the Governor of Anambra State for eight years.

“We will say everything, including how he stifled grassroots democracy by refusing to conduct local government election and ran the councils with his cronies as caretaker committees until three months to his exit from office,” SEPF stated.

South-East Forum slams Obi over N5bn defamation suit against Kenneth Okonkwo