Former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa has demanded ₦5 billion in damages and a public apology from African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory comments made during a television interview.
The demand was contained in a three-page letter dated June 11, 2026, signed by Udenwa’s lawyer, Chief Soronnadi Njoku (SAN), who accused Okonkwo of making statements that falsely portrayed the former governor as someone who extorted political aspirants through coercion and violence.
According to the letter, the remarks were made during a live television programme and were subsequently amplified by various media outlets and online platforms, causing serious damage to Udenwa’s reputation.
Your defamatory statement accusing him of illegally obtaining money from aspirants by compulsion and violence has greatly injured our client’s reputation and portrayed him as a common criminal who abuses his position for personal gains,” the letter stated.
The controversy stems from comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during a Channels Television interview on June 8, 2026, in which he accused some leaders of the South-East caucus of extorting aspirants seeking elective positions under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking during the programme, Okonkwo allegedly said that leaders including Achike Udenwa, Onyema Ugochukwu and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi were involved in collecting money from aspirants.
This is why the NDC released a statement that it is only the South-East caucus of the party that was involved in such problems. Onyema Ugochukwu, Achike Udenwa, Peter Obi and other leaders of the South-East caucus were busy extorting the South-East aspirants,” he reportedly stated.
Okonkwo further claimed that one of the aspirants, Obunike Ohaegbu, supplied him with evidence of the alleged payments, including receipts.
However, Udenwa has strongly rejected the allegations and is demanding that Okonkwo publish a retraction and an apology within seven days.
The former governor insisted that the apology must appear in five national newspapers and also be aired during prime-time programming on Channels Television.
We hereby give you seven days from the date of this letter to publish a strongly worded apology in five national dailies and air it on Channels Television, clearly retracting the statements and undertaking never to defame him again,” the letter added.
In addition to the apology, Udenwa is seeking ₦5 billion as compensation for what he described as damage to his image and reputation.
The former governor also warned that he would initiate legal proceedings at the appropriate High Court in Imo State if the demands are not met within the stipulated period.
The latest development comes days after Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also demanded ₦5 billion in damages and a public apology from Kenneth Okonkwo over similar allegations.
Obi had threatened legal action and hinted that higher damages could be sought if the actor-turned-politician failed to retract the statements.
Responding to Obi’s demand earlier, Okonkwo dismissed the allegations and shared alleged WhatsApp conversations between himself and Obunike Ohaegbu, which he claimed support his position regarding the party’s primary process.
Okonkwo previously served as Peter Obi’s spokesperson before both men parted ways politically.
