Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he will withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if evidence produced by Kenneth Okonkwo shows he is unfit to hold office.
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Obi, who has filed a defamation suit against Okonkwo, made the pledge during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo. Okonkwo, an actor-turned-politician, was recently named spokesman for African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
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The former Anambra State governor challenged Okonkwo to make public every piece of damaging information he has claimed to possess against him, insisting that the lawsuit was not an attempt to silence his critic but to force him to back up his allegations with proof.
Obi argued that voters are entitled to know the character and background of anyone seeking public office before casting their votes.
“I want Kenneth Okonkwo to bring out all the ‘hidden things’ that he has on me. If I am not qualified after his revelation, then I’ll stop running for the election,” Obi said.
He noted that Okonkwo, who once served as his spokesperson, had on several occasions claimed to be in possession of sensitive information about him from that period.
Addressing criticism that the lawsuit amounted to an attempt to suppress free speech, Obi maintained that its only objective was to compel Okonkwo to produce the evidence he claims to hold.
“Kenneth Okonkwo said, as my spokesperson, he had so many hidden things that if he’s provoked or sued, he will bring them out. And that’s the only thing I’m suing him for—to bring those things out,” he added.
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