A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, for Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Obunike Ohaegbu, popularly known as Nwa Miss, has denied claims linking him to allegations that the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, defrauded aspirants during the party’s primary elections.
Ohaegbu made the clarification while reacting to comments by Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, who had alleged during an interview on Channels Television that Obi and some leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded ₦10 million from aspirants in exchange for automatic tickets.
Okonkwo, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, had claimed that Ohaegbu sent him an “SOS message” alleging fraud in the conduct of the primaries.
He further alleged that anyone voting for Peter Obi and the NDC in 2027 would be “voting for criminality.”
According to Okonkwo, Ohaegbu allegedly told him that Peter Obi had become “the head of the criminality” and that aspirants were “scammed” in the NDC.
However, Ohaegbu denied making such claims against Obi.
He confirmed that there was communication between him and Okonkwo but said the message he sent was a general broadcast to over 2,000 persons, including Okonkwo and Obi.
According to him, the broadcast was meant to alert NDC members to disregard rumours that automatic tickets had been given to some aspirants.
“First of all, was there any communication between me and Mr Kenneth Okonkwo? The answer is in the affirmative.
“I have over 2,000 people that I send everything I write, including Kenneth Okonkwo, and also including His Excellency, Peter Obi,” he said.
Ohaegbu explained that the message which triggered Okonkwo’s call was a broadcast he sent to NDC members, warning them not to believe rumours that any member had been given an automatic ticket.
He said the party had not informed aspirants that automatic tickets would be granted to anyone.
He added that the controversy became more sensitive because of rumours surrounding the ticket in Obi’s federal constituency and the possible emergence of a senatorial candidate from the same local government.
Ohaegbu insisted that he never told Okonkwo that he met Obi during the primary election process or that Obi asked him for money.
“If I had ever said either through text or if Kenneth can show anywhere in that message, I said I met with Peter Obi throughout this process, I will apologise,” he said.
The aspirant said his discussions over payment and nomination issues were with the party’s National Secretary, not Obi.
According to him, the National Secretary was the person who allegedly told him to pay ₦10 million and also allegedly gave assurances concerning an automatic ticket.
He said the payment was made into the NDC’s account with Fidelity Bank and not to Obi or any private individual.
“But what I’m addressing now is what Okonkwo said that Peter Obi told us to go and pay ₦10 million, that he needed the money for his campaign. The ₦10 million I paid was paid to the account of the NDC, in Fidelity Bank. I never said I paid bribe,” Ohaegbu said.
He further denied telling Okonkwo that the party’s National Caucus directed aspirants to pay ₦10 million.
“So he said I told him that the party’s National Caucus told us to pay ₦10 million. I never said that, and it’s not in the message,” he said.
Ohaegbu maintained that Obi never asked him to pay any money and that he never told Okonkwo otherwise.
“I’m telling you, Peter Obi never told me to pay ₦10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi in any way told me to pay ₦10 million. The only person who asked me to pay ₦10 million is the National Secretary,” he added.
He also denied saying that Obi and other party leaders were writing primary election results at John Wood Hotel, Abuja, while the election was ongoing.
Ohaegbu disclosed that he had returned to the party to challenge the issues surrounding the primary process and said his lawyers would be filing papers against the NDC.
He, however, insisted that his grievance with the party should not be misrepresented as an allegation that Obi personally demanded money or defrauded him.
