Veteran Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has continued to react to the reports that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, is demanding N5 billion in damages over alleged defamatory remarks.

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Okonkwo mocked the reported legal action, suggesting that Obi was seeking funds for political campaigns.

The former Obi campaign spokesman claimed that if Obi needed funds for political activities, he should ask him privately rather than resort to what he described as extortion.

“It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his lawyers that I should pay him N5b. Hahaha!

“If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him. I did so when I was his spokesperson, paying for my flight tickets and booking for my hotel accommodation to some of our campaigns,” Okonkwo said.

Okonkwo further alleged that he personally covered some expenses during his time as Obi’s spokesperson, including flight tickets and hotel accommodation for campaign activities.

The actor-turned-politician said he had not yet read the letter but warned that any legal action could compel him to disclose information he obtained while serving as Obi’s spokesperson.

According to him, he had refrained from sharing confidential information out of principle but suggested that such restraint could change if the matter proceeded to court.

He also challenged Obi and his legal team to pursue the case, insisting that he was prepared to respond after reviewing the letter.

Okonkwo stated that he would formally respond to the demand letter after reading it.

Scores of members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday staged a protest at the party’s Lagos State Secretariat in Ikeja, demanding the cancellation of primary election results in several constituencies over alleged irregularities.

The demonstrators, drawn from various constituencies including Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I and Somolu Constituency II, urged the party leadership to investigate complaints arising from the recently concluded House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly primaries.

The APC conducted its legislative primaries in May and subsequently announced the names of successful candidates. However, some aspirants and party members have continued to challenge the outcomes, insisting that the published results did not reflect the decisions made by party members during the direct primary elections.

The protesters called on the party’s leadership and relevant appeal panels to review the conduct of the elections and address what they described as widespread procedural breaches.

One of the petitions was submitted by House of Representatives aspirant for Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Mr Ayodele Adewale, who challenged the outcome of the primary election in the constituency.

Adewale alleged that the exercise across the constituency’s 11 wards was marred by significant procedural violations, including the absence of an official membership register during accreditation.

He further claimed that accreditation was conducted using APC slips that were neither properly verified nor officially recognised.

The aspirant urged the appeal committee to thoroughly investigate the accreditation and voting processes and nullify the election outcome.

Similarly, House of Assembly aspirant for Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Mr David Doherty, faulted the transparency of the exercise, alleging that aspirants were excluded from critical decisions leading up to the election.

He also claimed that armed individuals disrupted voting in some riverine communities by firing gunshots, forcing party members to flee from polling locations.

Doherty called for the cancellation of the constituency’s results and demanded sanctions against anyone found culpable of electoral misconduct or violence.

In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, petitioners alleged widespread irregularities, including result manipulation, improper collation procedures and breaches of electoral guidelines.

According to them, some electoral officials failed to appear at designated collation centres, while certain results were allegedly altered.

They further claimed that votes were inflated in some wards and that proper accreditation procedures were not followed.

The petitioners requested a verification of ward-level results and a forensic review of disputed result sheets and signatures.

Speaking on behalf of protesters from Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Prince Hakeem Ola described the alleged treatment of Doherty as unfair and unacceptable.

He maintained that party members should be allowed to choose their representatives freely through a transparent and credible democratic process.

Ola alleged that Doherty emerged victorious in the primary election but that attempts were being made by some party leaders to overturn the outcome.

Another protester from Agege Local Government Area, Mr Oluwasola Olugbemi, warned against what he described as efforts to impose candidates on party members.

He argued that ignoring the preferences of party members undermines democratic values and weakens confidence in the electoral process.

Protesters from Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I and Somolu Constituency II also submitted petitions alleging attempts to alter the outcomes of their respective primaries.

They appealed to the party leadership to uphold the results already forwarded to the APC National Secretariat.

The demonstrators insisted that the credibility of the APC’s internal democratic process was at stake and called for a transparent resolution of all disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite the morning rainfall, the protesters gathered outside the party secretariat, chanting solidarity songs and demanding action on their grievances.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the APC dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, was harassed during the protest.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mrs Omobola Akingbehin, the party clarified that Ojelabi was not present at the secretariat when the protest took place.

Akingbehin stated that while the party respected the constitutional right of members to express grievances through lawful means, such actions should be carried out responsibly.

She noted that the primary election process had been concluded and that established internal mechanisms were already available for resolving disputes arising from the exercise.

The party encouraged aggrieved aspirants and members to utilise the appropriate channels in the interest of unity, fairness and the continued growth of the APC.

Akingbehin also urged party members, stakeholders and the general public to disregard what she described as misleading reports and rely solely on information released through official party communication platforms.

Scores of members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday staged a protest at the party’s Lagos State Secretariat in Ikeja, demanding the cancellation of primary election results in several constituencies over alleged irregularities.

The demonstrators, drawn from various constituencies including Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I and Somolu Constituency II, urged the party leadership to investigate complaints arising from the recently concluded House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly primaries.

The APC conducted its legislative primaries in May and subsequently announced the names of successful candidates. However, some aspirants and party members have continued to challenge the outcomes, insisting that the published results did not reflect the decisions made by party members during the direct primary elections.

The protesters called on the party’s leadership and relevant appeal panels to review the conduct of the elections and address what they described as widespread procedural breaches.

One of the petitions was submitted by House of Representatives aspirant for Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Mr Ayodele Adewale, who challenged the outcome of the primary election in the constituency.

Adewale alleged that the exercise across the constituency’s 11 wards was marred by significant procedural violations, including the absence of an official membership register during accreditation.

He further claimed that accreditation was conducted using APC slips that were neither properly verified nor officially recognised.

The aspirant urged the appeal committee to thoroughly investigate the accreditation and voting processes and nullify the election outcome.

Similarly, House of Assembly aspirant for Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Mr David Doherty, faulted the transparency of the exercise, alleging that aspirants were excluded from critical decisions leading up to the election.

He also claimed that armed individuals disrupted voting in some riverine communities by firing gunshots, forcing party members to flee from polling locations.

Doherty called for the cancellation of the constituency’s results and demanded sanctions against anyone found culpable of electoral misconduct or violence.

In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, petitioners alleged widespread irregularities, including result manipulation, improper collation procedures and breaches of electoral guidelines.

According to them, some electoral officials failed to appear at designated collation centres, while certain results were allegedly altered.

They further claimed that votes were inflated in some wards and that proper accreditation procedures were not followed.

The petitioners requested a verification of ward-level results and a forensic review of disputed result sheets and signatures.

Speaking on behalf of protesters from Amuwo-Odofin Constituency II, Prince Hakeem Ola described the alleged treatment of Doherty as unfair and unacceptable.

He maintained that party members should be allowed to choose their representatives freely through a transparent and credible democratic process.

Ola alleged that Doherty emerged victorious in the primary election but that attempts were being made by some party leaders to overturn the outcome.

Another protester from Agege Local Government Area, Mr Oluwasola Olugbemi, warned against what he described as efforts to impose candidates on party members.

He argued that ignoring the preferences of party members undermines democratic values and weakens confidence in the electoral process.

Protesters from Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I and Somolu Constituency II also submitted petitions alleging attempts to alter the outcomes of their respective primaries.

They appealed to the party leadership to uphold the results already forwarded to the APC National Secretariat.

The demonstrators insisted that the credibility of the APC’s internal democratic process was at stake and called for a transparent resolution of all disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite the morning rainfall, the protesters gathered outside the party secretariat, chanting solidarity songs and demanding action on their grievances.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the APC dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, was harassed during the protest.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mrs Omobola Akingbehin, the party clarified that Ojelabi was not present at the secretariat when the protest took place.

Akingbehin stated that while the party respected the constitutional right of members to express grievances through lawful means, such actions should be carried out responsibly.

She noted that the primary election process had been concluded and that established internal mechanisms were already available for resolving disputes arising from the exercise.

The party encouraged aggrieved aspirants and members to utilise the appropriate channels in the interest of unity, fairness and the continued growth of the APC.

Akingbehin also urged party members, stakeholders and the general public to disregard what she described as misleading reports and rely solely on information released through official party communication platforms.