Ebonyi State Obidient Movement Responds to Works Minister’s Troubling Remarks

Ebonyi State Obidient Movement Responds to Engr. Dave Umahi’s Troubling Remarks

In a press release signed by Ebonyi State Obedient Movement and dated December 27, 2025 at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the movement expressed deep concern over a statement credited to Engr. David Nweze Umahi, the Honourable Minister of Works.

The Ebonyi State Obedient Movement has expressed deep concern over recent public statements attributed to the Honourable Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi. His comments widely considered by the movement as suggesting the intent to use of force, intimidation, or coercion in future electoral processes tends to be alarming and fundamentally inconsistent with democratic norms.

Speaking in Ebonyi State, at the heart of Igbo land, Engr. Umahi was quoted as:

1. Threatening citizens who do not intend to vote for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the next election to “stay indoors,” while implying that “force” would be deployed “to do good,” and that “no one shall deceive us again.”

2. Repeating past incendiary remarks such as “no opposition exists in Ebonyi” and “you can only challenge the governor on social media as no one will be allowed to do so on ground.”

According to the Obedient Movement, if accurately reported, the statements represent a dangerous departure from the principles of free choice, civic participation, and political plurality; the very foundations of any functioning democracy. “They also evoke troubling memories of the threats and violence witnessed during the 2023 presidential election in Lagos” The group stated further.

The Ebonyi State Obidient Movement further considers this pattern of rhetoric deeply inappropriate and potentially destabilizing. Normalizing the use of state power to intimidate political opponents or suppress dissenting voices poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s democratic health.

The group called on Nigerians, Ebonyians, and the international community to treat these remarks with utmost seriousness and remain vigilant as the 2027 elections approach stating that;

Since the disputed outcome of the 2023 presidential election, many Nigerians have observed a series of actions that appear designed to weaken opposition voices and erode democratic safeguards, including:

* Instigating internal crises within opposition political parties

* Selective withdrawal of security protections from opposition-aligned public figures

* The weaponization and proposed use of questionable tax instruments in ways perceived as punitive toward dissenting voices

These developments raise legitimate concerns about the trajectory of Nigeria’s democracy and underscore the urgent need for all political actors to recommit to fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.

While some within the ruling party APC celebrate what they perceive as political dominance ahead of 2027, the reality is far more complex. Nigeria’s political landscape is shifting, and global attention, particularly from the United States and the wider international community remains firmly focused on the country’s democratic integrity. Those who assume 2027 is already secured may find their confidence shaken with unfolding global events soonest.

The Ebonyi State Obidient Movement in the press release also reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to peaceful democratic engagement, civic education, and the protection of citizens’ rights to participate freely in elections without fear or intimidation. They urge leaders across all political divides to adopt language and actions that strengthen, rather than endanger democratic institutions.

Finally, while acknowledging the competence and qualifications of His Excellency Sen. Engr. Dave Umahi, the Movement respectfully caution him against the overused rhetoric of “when it is the turn of the Igbos.” For the group, this narrative has historically been used by individuals who, driven by personal ambition or political expediency, undermine genuine efforts toward achieving an Igbo presidency simply because they are not its direct beneficiaries.

The group therefore ask Engr. Umahi: If not now, when exactly does he believe it will be the turn of the Igbos to lead Nigeria? For them, history has shown that those who embraced evasive postures on this question often found themselves on the wrong side of both justice and legacy.

Nigeria belongs to all of us. Its future must be shaped through dialogue, accountability, and the collective will of its people, not through intimidation or exclusion.

In conclusion, the group call on all citizens to remain vigilant and prepared to resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections through undemocratic means, including the use of force, intimidation, or the misuse of state institutions such as security agencies, INEC, or the judiciary.