*Dismisses Okonkwo’s Allegations
*Ex-Actor Dares Obi To Sue, Releases Evidence
THE Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives aspirant for Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Obunike Ohaegbu, has denied claims linking him to allegations of bribery and fraud during the party’s primary elections concerning the party’s presidential candidate in next year’s general elections, Peter Obi
Recall that Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, had during a live television interview accused Obi and other party leaders in the Southeast of having accepted bribes during the primaries, claiming Ohaegbu sent him an “SOS message” on fraud that allegedly trailed the primaries’ results.
Okonkwo had asserted that anyone voting for Obi and the NDC in 2027 was “voting for criminality,” adding that “Ohaegbu sent an SOS to me and said that Peter Obi is now the head of the criminality. That they were scammed in NDC.”
Obi had threatened to drag his former political ally, Okonkwo, to court for defamation.
However, while reacting to Okonkwo’s claims during another television programme, Ohaegbu said he never told Okonkwo he met Obi all through the primary election process and never had any monetary discussion with him.
According to him: “First of all, was there any communication between me and Kenneth Okonkwo? The answer is in the affirmative. I have over 2,000 people that I send everything I write, including Okonkwo, and also including Obi.
“The message that triggered this was a broadcast I sent to NDC members, which Obi also received. I said they should disregard any rumour that suggests that any NDC member has been given automatic ticket, because that is not what the party told us.
“And the member representing Obi’s federal consistency was asked not to run, because it will not be fair if he runs. It will not be fair to other local governments, and that happened in so many other local governments.
“So, it would be wrong to say that the person representing us, who has never been to my community and not even been to my home since the election, will have automatic ticket. It especially makes it worse when it’s being rumoured that the senatorial candidate will come from his local government.
“So, it was after the broadcast I sent that he (Okonkwo) called me. Before I came here, I went for morning mass, because I’m a Catholic. As I speak to you, the Holy Communion is still running in my vein. If I had ever said either through text or if Kenneth can show anywhere in that message, I said I met with Obi throughout this process, I will apologise.”
Ohaegbu said it was the national secretary of the party that he had discussions with concerning payment of nomination forms, and who also promised him an automatic ticket, adding: “As a matter of fact, the national secretary told me that all my discussions with him, that he did that in his capacity as the national secretary and he told me if I have problems, I should go back to the party, which I have actually done this morning. My lawyers will be filing papers against the party.
“But what I’m addressing now is what Okonkwo said that Obi told us to go and pay N10million, that he needed the money for his campaign. The N10million I paid was paid to the account of the NDC in Fidelity Bank. I never said I paid bribe.
“He said I told him that the party’s national caucus told us to pay N10million. I never said that, and it’s not in the message. I will want this conversation limited to what he said and what I said.
“I’m telling you, Obi never told me to pay N10million, I never told Okonkwo that eter Obi in any way told me to pay N10million. The only person who asked me to pay N10million is the national secretary.”
He also denied saying that Obi and others were writing results of the primary election at John Wood Hotel Abuja while the election was going on.
However, Okonkwo has released “evidence” to support his allegations, daring Obi to drag him to court, as he has threatened.
In a post on his X account on Wednesday, June 10, Okonkwo published screenshots of what he said were conversations with Ohaegbu, insisting the aspirant linked the alleged payments directly to Obi and other party leaders.
He claimed Ohaegbu told him that when aspirants questioned party officials about who authorised the payments, they were informed the directive came from Obi and members of a caucus he had allegedly assembled.
Beside the bribery allegations, Okonkwo accusing Obi of being intolerant of criticism and attempting to silence dissenting voices through legal action, adding that some Obi supporters had infiltrated his social media platform to monitor his activities, prompting him to issue a fiery response.
He questioned Obi’s suitability for leadership, arguing that a presidential hopeful should be able to withstand public scrutiny and opposing opinions.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain vowed not to be cowed, but to continue responding to Obi’s supporters whenever they challenge him on the issue.
