Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared that he will withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo presents credible evidence proving he is unfit to hold public office.
Obi made the statement during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo while addressing his ongoing defamation suit against Okonkwo, who was recently appointed spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The former Anambra State governor said the lawsuit was not intended to silence Okonkwo but to compel him to substantiate claims that he possesses damaging information about him.
“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.
According to Obi, Okonkwo has repeatedly claimed to possess sensitive information about him from the period he served as his spokesperson but has yet to make the alleged details public.
Responding to suggestions that the legal action was aimed at suppressing free speech, Obi maintained that his objective was simply to have Okonkwo present whatever evidence he claims to have.
“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.
The defamation suit comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with both Obi and Okonkwo now aligned with different political platforms.