Okonkwo Releases WhatsApp Evidence In Bribery Allegation Against Peter Obi
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has published alleged WhatsApp conversations that he says support his claims of bribery involving Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress. The posts on his X handle on Wednesday morning followed demands by Obi’s lawyers for N5 billion in damages and a public apology over the allegations.
Okonkwo had on Monday alleged that Obi and other NDC leaders in the South East collected N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants and N20 million from senatorial aspirants. He said one of the aspirants, Obunike Ohaegbu, provided details of the payments along with a receipt. The claims prompted Obi’s legal team, led by Alex Ejesieme SAN, to issue a letter dated June 9 2026 demanding damages and an apology while threatening further legal action if the demands are not met.
In the new posts, Okonkwo shared excerpts of the alleged chats with Ohaegbu. He wrote that when questioned about Obi’s role in demanding the payments, Ohaegbu stated that the party named Peter Obi and caucus leaders assembled by Obi when confronted on who authorised the payments.
One excerpt quoted Ohaegbu as saying the entire NDC project had left him feeling deceived and disappointed. He noted that unlike states such as Kano and others in the North where negotiations for consensus took place, neither he nor other aspirants from Anambra State were invited to any such meetings. Ohaegbu said he participated in the primary process believing the outcome would determine the candidates, and questioned how a list of candidates was allegedly produced at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja without consultation or agreement among stakeholders in Anambra.
The excerpt continued that consensus requires consultation, negotiation and agreement, and raised questions about the integrity of the process, stating that if aspirants were directed to participate in primaries while lists were prepared elsewhere, serious issues arise about fraud.
Okonkwo defended going public, stating that as a citizen and lawyer he has a duty to disclose every crime against the state within his knowledge. He added that the people of the South East have suffered enough and cannot be taken for granted or subjected to fraud without challenge.
Okonkwo had earlier dismissed the lawyers’ demand, saying he had not fully read the letter but would respond formally after reviewing it. He warned that any legal action could lead to disclosure of information he acquired while serving as Obi’s spokesperson. The two men were once political allies before Obi left the African Democratic Congress for the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
The exchange has now moved into the public domain through social media posts and formal legal correspondence, with Okonkwo maintaining that the shared conversations provide evidence of Obi’s involvement in the party’s primary process.