A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has reacted strongly to a legal action brought against him by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.

The dispute stems from allegations made by Okonkwo accusing Obi and some South-East party leaders of demanding additional payments from National Assembly aspirants and of influencing candidate selection processes from a hotel in Abuja.

Following these claims, Obi’s legal team demanded a retraction, a public apology on Channels Television and social media platforms, and sought ₦5 billion in damages, along with an undertaking that Okonkwo would refrain from repeating the allegations.

In response to the court action, an Anambra State High Court in Onitsha reportedly granted Obi permission to serve court documents on Okonkwo through substituted means after direct service attempts failed.The court ordered that the documents be pasted at Okonkwo’s last known residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, or delivered to any adult present there.

Speaking on Channels Television, Okonkwo expressed disappointment over the lawsuit, insisting he once stood in defence of Obi during a period when he allegedly faced harassment in Edo State.He stated that although he no longer speaks for Obi, he had previously supported him during difficult moments, emphasising a sense of brotherhood.

Okonkwo also questioned why the matter had escalated to court instead of being resolved privately, maintaining that he had acted based on his beliefs regarding internal party issues.The case continues to generate political tension within opposition circles as both sides prepare for further legal and public exchanges.