Abia Youths Governance Initiative Slams Abia Renaissance Group (ARG) for Peddling Falsehood and Politicizing Governor Otti’s Statement, Calls Their Petition a Misguided Propaganda Stunt

…says ARG is a Pseudo-organization Fronting for Frustrated Political Elements Who Are Unsettled by Governor Otti’s Reformist Governance Style

The Abia Youths Governance Initiative (AYGI) has strongly condemned the recent publication by the so-called Abia Renaissance Group (ARG), describing it as a deliberate act of mischief, distortion of facts, and a desperate attempt to malign the image of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.

The group, in a detailed statement released in Aba, accused the ARG of twisting the Governor’s remarks made during the October edition of his monthly media parley, a program tagged “Governor Alex Otti Speaks,” to serve their sponsors’ political agenda.

The AYGI noted that Governor Otti’s statement, wherein he advised those planning to “write election results” in 2027 to “first write their wills,” was a metaphorical caution against electoral malpractice not a threat of violence as mischievously presented by the ARG.

The youths’ body argued that Governor Otti merely restated the constitutional principle that sovereignty lies with the people, and anyone attempting to subvert the people’s will through result falsification would be acting against the law and should be ready to face its consequences.

“Governor Otti’s remark was a bold reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections, a clear departure from the dark era of electoral banditry that once characterized Abia politics,” the AYGI emphasized.

According to the AYGI, the ARG’s sudden concern for “peace” and “democratic rights” is not only hypocritical but laughable, given that the same individuals remained silent during years of impunity, vote-buying, and political intimidation under past administrations.

“Where was the Abia Renaissance Group when ballot boxes were snatched, when voters were assaulted in the streets of Aba, and when political thuggery was used to install local government officials?” the youth group queried.

The AYGI described the ARG as a pseudo-organization fronting for frustrated political elements who are unsettled by Governor Otti’s reformist governance style, especially his ongoing efforts to dismantle entrenched structures of corruption and patronage that previously thrived in the state.

The AYGI reminded the ARG that under Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), every citizen, including the Governor, has the right to freedom of expression, provided such expression does not constitute an incitement to violence or hatred.

“In no part of Governor Otti’s statement was there a call to violence. Instead, it was a lawful warning rooted in Section 128 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which criminalizes falsification of election results and imposes severe penalties, including imprisonment, on offenders,” the group noted.

It further stressed that calling for an investigation into a sitting governor for restating the law is not only frivolous but an abuse of civic advocacy. 

“Security agencies are not political tools; they are institutions for protecting democracy, not instruments for political vendetta,” the AYGI added.

The Abia Youths Governance Initiative urged the public to disregard the baseless petition by the ARG, which it described as a desperate smear campaign orchestrated by political jobbers seeking relevance ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Governor Alex Otti is not a man given to intimidation or violence. His administration has demonstrated the highest respect for the rule of law, human rights, and democratic participation. His message was a patriotic call for clean politics, not a threat,” the group declared.

The AYGI advised civil society organizations in Abia State to maintain ethical standards and avoid being used as instruments of propaganda. It further called on the media to exercise professionalism by verifying facts before publishing politically motivated statements aimed at causing public tension.

“The beauty of democracy lies in truth, fairness, and responsibility. The ARG has failed all three tests,” the AYGI concluded.

The Abia Youths Governance Initiative reaffirmed its support for Governor Alex Otti’s administration, describing him as a reformer determined to restore sanity to Abia’s political space. It insisted that the law is clear: those who threaten democracy by attempting to rig elections are the real enemies of peace, not a governor who vows to defend the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

“Let it be known that Abia under Alex Otti is a state governed by laws, not thuggery. The era of writing results in hotels and backrooms is over. What we now have is a people-driven democracy that will never again bow to fear or falsehood,” the AYGI stated.