The Obidient Movement has challenged Minister of Works David Umahi to provide evidence supporting his alleged attempt to associate former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), accusing the minister of making politically motivated allegations instead of addressing questions surrounding unresolved deaths in Ebonyi State.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, and signed by its Director of Media and Communications, Onyeka Dike, the movement rejected suggestions linking Obi or his supporters to the separatist organisation. It maintained that political support for Obi did not constitute evidence of IPOB membership.
The group cited statements attributed to IPOB in July and August 2022, in which the organisation reportedly distanced itself from Obi's presidential ambition and rejected attempts to associate its activities with his campaign.
The movement challenged Umahi to substantiate any suggestion that Obi's supporters were connected to IPOB, arguing that Nigerians had the right to support political candidates without being associated with separatist organisations.
It also referred to Obi's previous condemnation of violence linked to enforced sit-at-home orders and his calls for dialogue and lawful measures to address insecurity in the South-East.
Beyond the political disagreement, the movement demanded renewed attention to the disappearance of five employees of NELAN Consulting Engineers in Ebonyi State in November 2021, during Umahi's tenure as governor.
The group said the engineers' families had continued to seek answers about their fate, particularly after Umahi publicly stated that they had been killed. It called for greater transparency over the circumstances of their disappearance and the findings of any investigations.
The movement also raised questions about the death of Mary Habila, a 26-year-old member of Umahi's medical team, who reportedly died at his residence in Ebonyi State on June 27, 2026.
It recalled that police had announced an investigation and indicated that a post-mortem examination would be necessary to establish the cause of death. The group demanded a public update on the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the engineers' disappearance and Habila's death remain matters requiring evidence-based investigation. The movement's allegations do not establish that Umahi was criminally responsible for either incident.
The statement comes amid renewed political exchanges between Umahi and Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a recent interview with ARISE News, Umahi argued that Obi was not the strongest presidential candidate the South-East could produce, criticising the former governor's approach to consultations with regional political leaders.
Umahi has also defended his support for President Bola Tinubu, maintaining that federal infrastructure investments and political engagement have strengthened the South-East's relationship with the administration.
The Obidient Movement rejected attempts to portray its supporters as members of a separatist organisation and urged the minister to concentrate on accountability and public service.
It called for transparent investigations into the Ebonyi deaths and challenged Umahi to provide verifiable evidence for any allegations against Obi.
No response from Umahi specifically addressing the movement's latest statement was established in the reports reviewed.
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