NDC presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, has filed an ₦8 billion defamation suit against former Labour Party stalwart and actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, at the High Court of Anambra State, Onitsha Judicial Division. Court documents obtained by BriefMedia reveal that the suit, marked O/229/2026, was instituted through Obi’s counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN. The legal action arises from statements allegedly made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a programme aired on Channels Television on June 8, 2026. According to the write of summons, Obi alleges that comments made by Okonkwo during the live broadcast, which were subsequently published on Channels Television’s YouTube platform and further circulated through his social media accounts, were false, malicious, baseless, and defamatory. The former Anambra State governor is seeking ₦5 billion in general damages for the alleged harm caused to his reputation, character, integrity, public image, political standing, and goodwill. Obi is also demanding ₦2 billion in aggravated damages, arguing that the statements continued to be published and repeated even after his legal representatives issued a demand letter. In addition, he is seeking ₦1 billion in exemplary damages, citing what the suit describes as the deliberate repetition and amplification of the alleged defamatory claims. Beyond financial compensation, Obi is asking the court to compel Okonkwo to publish a full, unreserved, and unequivocal retraction and apology within seven days of judgment. The proposed apology is to be published on Channels Television, its YouTube platform, the defendant’s social media accounts, and in three national newspapers with wide circulation across Nigeria. The suit further seeks an order requiring that any apology posted on social media remain prominently displayed and pinned for as long as the accounts remain active. Obi is also requesting the removal of all interviews, videos, posts, comments, and other publications containing the disputed statements from platforms under Okonkwo’s control. Additionally, the plaintiff is asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo, his agents, or associates from making, publishing, or circulating similar allegations linking him to bribery, fraud, theft, extortion, criminality, or the leadership of a criminal gang. The court documents indicate that the writ was issued on June 25, 2026, with the defendant granted 42 days from the date of service to enter an appearance before the court. The case is expected to attract considerable public and political interest, given the prominence of both men in Nigeria’s political landscape and their previous political association.