Abia Govt Debunks Charles Ogbonna’s Claim Against Otti, Says Allegation False And Malicious

The Abia State Government has debunked a video and statement credited to Chief Charles Ogbonna, in which he alleged that Governor Alex Otti said “Ngwa people have no brains.”

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the government described the allegation as false, baseless and malicious.

“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.

The government said Governor Otti holds Ndi Ngwa, like all Abians, in high esteem and has demonstrated it through equitable appointments, projects and policies across the state.

“If Chief Ogbonna thought well about the statement he made, he would have known that he contradicted himself when he started by saying that Governor Otti told him he was from Nvosi in Ngwa and proceeded to pronounce Ngwa people brainless. That is to say that Governor Otti himself was without brains too! We challenge Chief Ogbonna to produce the evidence which he claimed he has,” the statement read.

The government further challenged Ogbonna to disclose what went wrong between him and the Governor, noting that his outburst followed the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 elections.

“It is sad that at a time Governor Otti’s stellar performance has united Abians across clan and political lines, Chief Ogbonna believes the only way to stop his re-election is to stir clannish disaffection and ethnic hate. Sadly for him, Abia people are wiser,” Ekeoma stated.

The statement recalled that Ogbonna had previously condemned the award of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road contract, while residents were celebrating the intervention.

“Massive work is ongoing on the said Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road today, to the shock and shame of Chief Ogbonna,” the government said, adding that the era of godfatherism and primitive politics ended on May 29, 2023.

The Abia State Government condemned what it described as divisive utterances and warned against instigating hatred and division among Abians, stressing that Governor Otti remains focused on delivering good governance and will not be distracted.