Legal troubles appear to be mounting for Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, as the actor-turned-politician has once again been taken before the court by former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa.
Udenwa has instituted a ₦5 billion defamation suit against Okonkwo, stemming from comments he allegedly made during a national television interview aired on June 8, 2026. The former governor claims that Okonkwo, who previously served as spokesperson for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, made statements that he considers false and damaging to his reputation, as well as that of other leaders within the South-East bloc of the NDC.
According to court documents referenced by Udenwa’s legal team, led by Chief Soronnadi Njoku (SAN), the allegations made by Okonkwo suggested that he and other prominent figures within the party engaged in extorting aspirants during the most recent primary elections. In particular, Udenwa insists that he was wrongly accused of collecting large sums of money from individuals seeking nomination tickets for seats in the House of Representatives.
It is further alleged that during the televised interview, Okonkwo named Udenwa alongside other political figures, including Peter Obi and Onyema Ugochukwu, accusing them collectively of demanding millions of naira from contestants who participated in the party’s selection process.
As part of his legal demands, Udenwa is seeking a full withdrawal of the statements attributed to Okonkwo, a formally published apology, and compensation in the sum of ₦5 billion for reputational harm. He has also issued a seven-day deadline, requiring Okonkwo to publish retraction notices across major national newspapers and broadcast a public apology on Channels Television, the same platform where the remarks were allegedly made.
This latest legal challenge comes on the heels of a separate lawsuit filed only a week earlier by Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, who now serves as the NDC’s flag bearer for the 2027 election cycle. Obi’s own suit is also based on similar allegations made by Okonkwo, which he considers defamatory and injurious to his public image.
In his case, Obi is also demanding a public apology, widely circulated in national newspapers and aired on television, in addition to a ₦5 billion damages claim. The consistency in the nature of both lawsuits underscores a growing legal confrontation between Okonkwo and key figures within the political establishment.
Okonkwo, however, has responded to Obi’s legal action in a defiant manner, signalling that he intends to escalate the matter further. He reportedly stated that he would reveal what he described as questionable interactions and behind-the-scenes dealings he allegedly had with the former Anambra State governor during his time as Obi’s presidential campaign spokesperson.
Meanwhile, public reaction to the ongoing disputes has been sharply divided. The controversies have sparked widespread debate across political and regional lines, with some Nigerians expressing support for Okonkwo’s assertions.
This group argues that the internal processes of the NDC’s recent primaries were fraught with irregularities and questionable practices. They maintain that the conduct of the party raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness in candidate selection.
Others, however, view the accusations as damaging and politically motivated, warning that such public exchanges between prominent political actors could further deepen mistrust in the country’s democratic institutions. The unfolding legal battles continue to attract attention, as observers await how the courts will eventually resolve the escalating conflict.
