The Abia State Government has disclosed intelligence of an alleged plot to stage a protest aimed at undermining the administration of Governor Alex Otti. According to a statement released on Friday by the governor's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, certain political actors are reportedly mobilising individuals from Aba and neighbouring states to participate in a demonstration tagged "Tinubu Dey Work, Otti Dey Chop." The government described the slogan as promoting a false claim that federal funds are financing state projects, a claim it says was previously debunked. Ekeoma stated that federal refunds for such projects have been discontinued. The planned protest is suspected to be a deliberate attempt to provoke clashes with the Abia State Task Force in Aba, potentially leading to violence and disruption of public order. The government warned that such actions could be linked to efforts to create instability ahead of the 2027 general elections. While affirming tolerance for opposition, the administration pledged to take action against any individual or group threatening public safety. Residents were urged to prevent their children from joining politically motivated protests that could endanger their lives.
That the state feels compelled to expose a protest plot before it happens says more about the governor's anxiety than the threat itself. Ferdinand Ekeoma's detailed warning over a slogan and alleged mobilisation suggests the administration is treating political optics as a security issue. If the government truly believes federal funding myths can be weaponised this easily, then public trust in its narrative may be more fragile than the peace it claims to protect.
