Okonkwo Releases Alleged WhatsApp Chats, Maintains Bribery Claims Against Obi, NDC

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has released what he described as evidence to support his allegations of bribery against the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.

 

Okonkwo had earlier alleged that Obi and some NDC leaders in the South-East collected N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants and N20 million from senatorial aspirants during the party’s candidate selection process.

 

He also claimed that one of the aspirants, Obunike Ohaegbu, provided him with details of the alleged payments and a receipt as evidence.

 

The allegations prompted a legal response from Obi, whose lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), issued a letter dated June 9, 2026, demanding N5 billion in damages and a public apology from Okonkwo.

 

The former Anambra State governor also threatened legal action and indicated that higher damages could be sought if the demands were not met.

 

However, in a series of posts on his X handle on Wednesday, Okonkwo shared screenshots of alleged WhatsApp conversations between himself and Ohaegbu, which he claimed support his allegations.

 

According to Okonkwo, Ohaegbu stated that when he sought clarification on the alleged payments, party officials informed him that the process was authorised by Peter Obi and caucus leaders assembled by him.

 

“Obunike Ohaegbu, when I questioned him to prove that Peter Obi was responsible for demanding the N10m from him and other House of Representatives aspirants and N20m from the Senate aspirants, he made it clear that when he confronted the party on who authorised the payment, the party named Peter Obi and the caucus leaders who were assembled by Peter Obi,” Okonkwo wrote.

 

In excerpts of the alleged chat shared by Okonkwo, Ohaegbu expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party’s primary process in Anambra State, questioning how a list of candidates was allegedly produced despite what he claimed was the absence of consultations or consensus meetings with aspirants.

 

He argued that consensus, by definition, requires consultation, negotiation and agreement among stakeholders.

 

Okonkwo also defended his decision to publicise the allegations, insisting that he was fulfilling his civic and professional responsibilities.

 

“Let me make it clear that as a citizen and a Lawyer, I have a duty to disclose every crime against the state that comes within my knowledge. The South-East people have suffered enough,” he stated.

 

He added that no individual should be allowed to perpetrate alleged fraud against citizens without being challenged.

 

Earlier, Okonkwo said he had not yet reviewed the legal letter from Obi’s lawyers and would respond after studying its contents.

 

He also warned that any court action could result in the disclosure of additional information he acquired while serving as Obi’s spokesperson and political ally.

 

Okonkwo and Obi were previously political associates before parting ways following Obi’s defection from the ADC to the NDC.