Politics
Umahi Sacks Two Dev Centre Coordinators Over Crisis
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has announced the sack of Coordinators of two Development Centres and all civil servants from Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State over the lingering crisis in the area.
The Governor also announced the suspension of salaries of permanent Secretaries from the area and further disclosed that he would approach the State House of Assembly for the way forward on the Chairman of the Council and the two House of Assembly members from the area.
“The coordinators of the two development centres from the area are hereby removed from office while salaries of Permanent Secretaries from the area are suspended.
The Governor made the pronouncement on Tuesday in Abakaliki during a security summit on the security situation organised by the State’s founding fathers, Christian Association of Nigeria among other stakeholders.
The meeting was sequel to the November 3, 2021 abduction of three engineers at site of the ring road project at Effium community as well as the attack on the security agents who went on a rescue mission in the area last Sunday, which resulted to the killing of two policemen.
Umahi said that though the perpetrators of the killings and destruction in the area were funded from outside, some stakeholders of the area within the state were also part of the funding.
According to him, the government cannot sit and watch them receiving salaries which they use in sponsoring killings and destruction of the people’s properties.
“Recently, five construction workers on the state’s ring road which passes through the area were killed by unknown people and these workers who know nothing about the crisis were here to help the state.
He said that the suspects arrested over the incident confessed that the workers had been killed and buried and the government in pacifying the affected families, sought to know the location of where they were buried, but the hoodlums ambushed the security team who went to the area and officers had been reportedly killed or missing.
Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, South East Zonal Chaiman of CAN urged stakeholders in the state to check the effects of hard drugs, especially ‘mkprummiri’ on the youths due to its negative effects on their actions.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.
