Okonkwo Accuses Peter Obi Of Involvement In Bribery, Says He Has Receipts

Nollywood actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and some party leaders in the South-East of collecting bribes during the party’s recent primary elections.

Naija News reports that Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television.

He claimed that a House of Representatives aspirant from Anambra State sent him an “SOS message” alleging irregularities and bribery in the conduct of the NDC primaries.

The former Labour Party chieftain alleged that anyone voting for Obi and the NDC in 2027 “is voting for criminality.”

Okonkwo identified the alleged whistle-blower as Obunike Ohaegbu, who, according to him, sought to contest for the Nnewi North and Nnewi South Federal Constituency seat in Anambra State on the platform of the NDC.

He alleged that the aspirant complained that candidates were deceived during the process and made to pay money after initially being told that only expression of interest forms were required at the first stage.

According to Okonkwo, the aspirant claimed that aspirants were assured that nomination fees would only be paid after candidates had emerged.

Okonkwo said, “The NDC aspirant sent an SOS to me and said that Peter Obi is now the head of the criminality that they were scammed in NDC.

“He said Kwankwaso went to his people and made sure that every constituency produced one candidate so that they are not scammed, but Peter Obi told them that all the aspirants should go into the field, and the aspirants were told that they were going to have primaries.”

₦10 Million, ₦20 Million Bribe Allegation

Okonkwo further alleged that aspirants in the South-East were later asked to pay additional sums before the primaries.

He claimed that House of Representatives aspirants were allegedly asked to pay ₦10m, while senatorial aspirants were asked to pay ₦20m.

“Remember that Dickson came out and said once you pay for your expression of interest form, you are not going to pay any money, when you are the one who is nominated, that is when you will pay nomination fees,” he said.

“All of them ran into it then Peter Obi and leaders of the South-East, NDC caucus, went and told them that after paying for the expression of interest forms, you must pay ₦10 million bribe for Reps and Senate, ₦20 million.

“When all of them paid, thinking they were the candidates, they were told to go for the primary.”

Names Allegedly Written In Hotel

The ADC chieftain also alleged that while aspirants were participating in the primaries, names of candidates had already been written elsewhere.

He claimed that Obi was at a hotel during the process, where names of preferred candidates were being compiled.

“While they were doing the primaries, Peter Obi was in the John Wood hotel writing names of candidates,” Okonkwo alleged.

“The aspirant sent me the receipt of the money.”

Okonkwo did not provide further details in the interview on whether the alleged receipts had been submitted to any law enforcement agency or electoral body.

As of the time of filing this report, Obi and the NDC leadership had not responded to the allegations.