Kenneth Okonkwo Hit With Fresh Lawsuit As Ex-Imo Governor Drags Him To Court

According to Ireporter Online, former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, has instituted a lawsuit against chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, over alleged defamatory remarks made during a televised interview.

Okonkwo had accused Udenwa and other South-East political figures of allegedly extorting aspirants seeking elective positions under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). He was quoted as saying that the party’s South-East caucus, including figures such as Onyema Ugochukwu, Achike Udenwa, and Peter Obi, were involved in demanding money from aspirants in exchange for party tickets.

In response, Udenwa’s legal counsel, Soronnadi A. Njoku (SAN), issued a formal demand requesting a public retraction of the statements, an apology, and ₦5 billion in damages for reputational harm caused by the allegations.

Meanwhile, Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has also reacted to similar allegations made by Okonkwo, in which he was accused of financial impropriety involving the collection of about ₦10 million from political aspirants for party tickets. Obi’s legal representatives have described the claims as false, defamatory, and damaging to his reputation, also demanding a public apology and ₦5 billion in compensation, with a threat of legal action should the remarks not be withdrawn.

Speaking during an interview on NoireTV, Obi dismissed all allegations of misconduct, insisting that his political career has been guided strictly by due process and ethical conduct. He maintained that he has never engaged in any form of illegality or “rascality,” adding that he remains committed to transparency and integrity in public service.

He further stated that criticisms and accusations from opponents do not reflect his character or political record, stressing that he has consistently opposed the kind of practices he is being accused of. Obi also noted that had he intended to engage in wrongdoing, he would have done so while in office, rather than exiting public service with what he described as a clean record.