The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, Peter Obi, has said that internal disagreements within political parties are normal and should not be mistaken for crisis.
Obi spoke on Tuesday during an interview aired by Nevon Media, where he addressed concerns about tensions within his party and wider political reactions to opposition criticisms.
He said every political organisation experiences disagreements from time to time, but such issues are usually resolved internally.
“In every organisation, you will have disagreements or minor issues. What matters is how they are handled. Most of the time, they are resolved and the party moves on,” he said.
Obi also reacted to concerns raised by some members of the party, including Aisha Yusuf, noting that differences of opinion and expressions of dissatisfaction are part of political engagement and do not necessarily indicate a breakdown in structure.
On the issue of legal disputes and public allegations involving chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo, Obi said the matter was triggered by public claims that could not be ignored.
He explained that such situations arise when individuals make statements that may require legal clarification.
He stressed that accountability and evidence are important in political communication.
Obi maintained that leaders should be open to scrutiny and allow the public to ask questions about their conduct.
“As leaders, we must be open to scrutiny so the public can understand who we are and what we stand for,” he said.
He added that future leaders must be selected based on integrity, competence, and character, not just political loyalty.
“It is important that those who will lead us must be people of character, integrity, competence, and proper qualification,” he said.
Obi further noted that accountability in politics also means allowing past and present actions of leaders to be examined where necessary in the interest of the public.
Last week, Peter Obi filed a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged damaging remarks made during a televised interview.
Okonkwo had repeatedly criticised Obi’s political decisions, including his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition and his move to the newly formed NDC.
In one interview, he also described Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as “political conmen” for leaving the coalition after previously supporting it.
Court documents show the suit is based on comments allegedly made on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8, 2026, where Okonkwo was said to have accused Obi of corruption and questionable political dealings.
The allegations include claims of bribery involving N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants, manipulation of party primaries, and misconduct in candidate selection processes.