The Abia State Government has strongly denied an allegation attributed to Chief Charles Ogbonna that Governor Alex Otti made a disparaging remark about Ngwa people, describing the claim as false and challenging Ogbonna to produce evidence to substantiate it.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the government was compelled to respond because of the gravity of the allegation, despite having ignored what it described as several previous attacks from Ogbonna.
Ogbonna was alleged to have claimed in a video that Governor Otti said “Ngwa people have no brains,” an assertion the state government categorically rejected.
“We wish to state categorically that this allegation is false, baseless, and a figment of Chief Ogbonna’s imagination. At no time, in private or in public, did Governor Otti make such a statement,” Ekeoma said.
According to him, Otti holds Ndi Ngwa, like other Abians, in high esteem and has demonstrated this through appointments, projects and policies spread across different parts of the state.
Ekeoma also questioned what he described as a contradiction in Ogbonna’s account, noting that Ogbonna had reportedly said Otti identified himself as being from Nvosi in Ngwa before allegedly making the disputed comment about Ngwa people.
The governor’s aide consequently challenged Ogbonna to make public whatever evidence he claimed to possess.
“We challenge Chief Ogbonna to produce the evidence which he claimed he has,” Ekeoma stated.
The government further challenged Ogbonna to explain what may have gone wrong in his relationship with the governor, arguing that it was insufficient to repeatedly criticise Otti without explaining the circumstances behind their apparent disagreement.
Ekeoma also linked Ogbonna’s latest comments to political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the remarks were politically motivated and intended to stir ethnic sentiments against the governor.
He accused Ogbonna of attempting to create division along clan lines at a time the administration believes its programmes and projects are receiving support across political and communal divides.
The statement also revisited Ogbonna’s previous criticism of the award of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road project. According to Ekeoma, while residents and users of the road welcomed the intervention, Ogbonna criticised the decision to embark on the project.
The government alleged that his opposition was politically motivated because the project could generate goodwill for the Otti administration. It added that substantial work was currently ongoing on the road.
Ekeoma further argued that Abia had moved away from what the administration described as the era of “godfatherism and primitive politics” since Otti assumed office on May 29, 2023.
The statement contained strongly worded criticism of Ogbonna, including a reference to his previous profession as a butcher, with Ekeoma arguing that the administration would not be distracted by political attacks.
He maintained that the developmental changes recorded by the administration were visible across the state, particularly in Umuahia, where Ogbonna hails from.
The government consequently warned against statements it believes could create ethnic tension or division among Abians and urged political actors to conduct their engagements without inflaming communal sentiments.
“We condemn in the strongest terms Chief Ogbonna’s divisive utterances and warn him to desist from instigating hatred and division among peace-loving Abians. At his age, we expect him to build bridges and not sow seeds of rancour and discord,” Ekeoma said.
He added that Governor Otti would remain focused on his administration’s programmes despite increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Governor Otti remains focused on delivering good governance to all Abians and will not be distracted by desperate politicians,” the statement concluded.
The central allegation that Otti made the disputed remark about Ngwa people remains a claim attributed to Ogbonna, while the Abia State Government has categorically denied it and challenged him to produce evidence supporting his account.
