Peter Obi is a classless, non-charismatic politician – Kenneth Okonkwo

Nigeria: Kenneth Okonkwo has launched a fresh verbal assault on Peter Obi, branding the former Anambra State governor a “classless, non-charismatic politician” as the bitter fallout between the former political allies escalates into a legal battle.

Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, where he questioned Obi’s understanding of defamation law and accused him of making both legal and factual errors in his handling of the dispute.

The confrontation stems from allegations Okonkwo made against Obi during an earlier Sunrise Daily appearance. Obi subsequently issued a pre-action notice demanding a retraction and apology and threatening a ₦5 billion defamation action. Obi later proceeded to court, with reports indicating that a writ of summons was filed at the High Court of Anambra State in June.

But rather than retreat, Okonkwo has doubled down.

He insisted that his comments were already in the public domain and challenged Obi to prove that he had defamed him.

“Peter Obi is a classless, non-charismatic politician with little knowledge and zero depth, look at the lie he just told. First of all, what he said is legally illogical, defamation suit is a suit you bring against somebody for what he has already said which you are alleging injured your reputation.

“But look at him saying that he wants to sue Kenneth Okonkwo for what Kenneth Okonkwo said he intends to say, lie. He had already commenced the suing before I said what I said. When you are dealing with a Peter Obi, it’s good to put everything you are saying in writing.”

Okonkwo said the statement that triggered the latest exchange was posted on his X account and, according to him, did not constitute a threat to reveal damaging information about Obi.

“What I said is on my X handle and this is what I said ‘It’s unwise for you to sue your spokesperson because in defense of himself, he may divulge some confidential information.’ I did not say anything whether it would destroy him or not.”

₦5bn dispute turns uglier

The legal confrontation began after Okonkwo alleged during his June 8 television appearance that Obi and members of the NDC’s South-East caucus demanded ₦10 million from some aspirants seeking party tickets.

Obi's legal team rejected the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory. His lawyers demanded a public apology and ₦5 billion in damages in the pre-action notice issued on June 9.

Okonkwo, however, maintained that the legal process had already begun before his subsequent comments about the case and accused Obi of misunderstanding the significance of a pre-action notice.

“I said it in response because he has started suing, defamation suit commence with pre-action notice, pre-action is telling you that you have defamed me, give me all these, the five billion did not commence from the court, it commenced from his pre-action notice.”

The dispute has since moved beyond television interviews and social media exchanges. By June 25, reports said Obi had filed a writ of summons against Okonkwo at the Anambra State High Court, seeking substantial damages over the allegations.

Okonkwo has nevertheless remained defiant. In a separate July appearance, he said he had not personally received court documents relating to the case at the time, describing his knowledge of developments as information he was seeing on social media.

Okonkwo brings Sowore, Keyamo into the fight

The ADC chieftain also broadened his attack, arguing that Obi had developed a pattern of taking legal action against critics while leaving other public attacks unanswered.

He referenced comments previously attributed to Omoyele Sowore and more recently to Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo.

“So just look at a man who wants to be President, lying both legally and factually, so what I said is there on Instagram. Defamation suit is for what you have already said and not what you intend to say, that is why it’s a lie; so if he had gone to court, why didn’t he go to court and just say that I’m suing him for what he intends to say. I have said it before that Obi wants to destroy any rising star from the Southeast. Sowore said he is a packaged fraud, has he sued him?”

He also backed Keyamo over the minister’s recent criticism of Obi.

“Just yesterday, the Minister of Aviation said he lies like the fish drinks water. Has he sued him? When Arabambi talked he said no he didn’t have a face, he is faceless that was why he didn’t sue him, Minister of Aviation has called him a compulsive liar and unfortunately, I agree with him on that because he has lied against me openly and has displayed very little knowledge. His lawyers should educate him.”

From allies to courtroom opponents

The latest exchange marks a dramatic turn in the relationship between the two men.

Okonkwo was previously a prominent member of Obi’s political camp and served as his spokesman during the 2023 presidential campaign. Their political paths later diverged, with Okonkwo joining the ADC coalition ahead of the 2027 political contest.

The present dispute has now added a potentially costly legal dimension to their political separation.

While Obi has taken the matter to court, Okonkwo appears determined to make the courtroom battle a public political argument as well.

For now, the dispute is no longer simply about what was allegedly said during a television interview. It has become a broader confrontation over reputation, political credibility and the limits of public criticism — with both sides preparing to defend their positions as the 2027 political season gathers momentum.