Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi and some party leaders in the South-East of collecting bribes during the party’s recent primary elections.
The allegation was made by a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Okonkwo, during an interview on Channels Television.
He had claimed that he got a “SOS message” from a House of Representatives aspirant in Anambra State alleging irregularities and bribery in the conduct of the NDC primaries.
The former Labour Party chieftain alleged that whoever votes for Obi and the NDC in 2027 “is voting criminality.
Okonkwo said the alleged whistle-blower was one Obunike Ohaegbu who, according to him, wanted to contest for the Nnewi North and Nnewi South Federal Constituency seat in Anambra State on the platform of the NDC.
He alleged that the aspirant complained that the candidates were duped in the process and made to pay money after they were initially told that only expression of interest forms were needed at the first stage.
According to Okonkwo, the aspirants had said aspirants were assured that nomination fees would only be paid after candidates emerged.
Okonkwo said, “The NDC aspirant sent SOS to me and said that Peter Obi is now the head of the criminality that they were scammed in NDC.
He said that Kwankwaso went to his people and made sure that each constituency produced one candidate so that they are not scammed, but Peter Obi told them that all the aspirants should go into the field and the aspirants were told that they were going to have primaries.
₦10,000,000, ₦20,000,000 Bribery Allegation
Okonkwo also alleged that aspirants in the South-East were later asked to pay additional sums before the primaries.
He said House of Representatives aspirants were allegedly asked to pay ₦10m, while senatorial aspirants were asked to pay ₦20m.
He said: “Note that Dickson said once you pay for your expression of interest form, you are not going to pay any money, it is when you are the one that is nominated, that you will pay nomination fees.”
“Then they all ran into it. Then Peter Obi and leaders of the South-East, NDC caucus, went and told them that after paying for the expression of interest forms, you must pay a bribe of ₦10 million for Reps and Senate, ₦20 million.
They all paid thinking they were the candidates. Then they were told to go for the primary.
Names Penciled in Hotel Allegedly
The ADC chieftain also alleged that names of candidates were already written elsewhere while aspirants were taking part in the primaries.
He said Obi was in a hotel during the process, where names of preferred candidates were being compiled.
“Whilst they were doing the primaries, Peter Obi was in the John Wood hotel writing names of candidates,” Okonkwo claimed.
“The aspirant sent me the money receipt.
Okonkwo did not say in the interview whether the alleged receipts had been submitted to any law enforcement agency or electoral body.
As of the time of filing this report, Obi and the NDC leadership have not responded to the allegations.
