Abia State government has denied sponsoring the activities of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.
The Alex Otti-led administration also denied using the state’s funds to sponsor legal battles of Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 Presidential polls.
The denials were made by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, in reaction to some recent media reports.
The Abia government said the press conferences where the allegations were made, were suspected to have been sponsored by the two opposition parties currently in court against Otti’s governorship victory.
The state government said the allegations were heavy and should be investigated by security agencies, with the view of inviting the culprits to explain their claims.
Ekeoma said: “In the first press conference, a group of young men alleged that Governor Alex Otti was using Abia funds to sponsor the litigation of LP presidential candidate in the last election, Mr Peter Obi.”
“In the second press conference, another group of strange fellows alleged that the four-month-old government of Dr Alex Otti was sponsoring the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, to cause terror in the State.”
“They went further to call for the governorship election judgement billed for 6th October 2023 not to be delivered in Abia because the Abia State government had allegedly concluded plans to intimidate the Justices to deliver judgement in favour of Governor Alex Otti or alternatively, would ensure that the Judges would be killed if they fail to deliver judgement in favour of the Governor.”
He said the allegations had the propensity to cause insecurity and the breakdown of law and order in the state and even endanger the lives of innocent citizens.