Youth, Women Groups Rally Behind Umahi, Dismiss Allegations As Smear Campaign

‎Three prominent civil society groups; the Ohanivo Youth Forum, Concerned Ohanivo Women, and the Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO) have issued separate but strongly worded press statements defending the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, CON, against what they collectively describe as “a coordinated campaign of defamation and online harassment.”

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‎The statements, all released on Friday, February 27, 2026, were prompted by the circulation of social media videos featuring Mrs. Tracy Nicholas Ohiri, who has made financial claims against the minister, and the subsequent involvement of activist Omoyele Sowore, who allegedly confronted the minister in a widely publicised incident.

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‎The Ohanivo Youth Forum, in a statement signed by its National President, Senior Comrade George Chimeebere Nwoye, described Sowore’s conduct as “a continuation of a familiar pattern of opportunistic agitation driven by pretence rather than genuine public interest.”

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‎The Forum praised the minister for his restraint, noting that “his conduct clearly shows deep respect for himself, the office he occupies, and the Nigerian people he serves.” It also alleged that Sowore had previously exploited Igbo sensitivities by inserting himself into protests surrounding the Nnamdi Kanu case, only to abandon the cause midway.

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‎The group was unequivocal in its warning, stating that “this should be the last attempt to weaponise ethnic sentiment, manufactured outrage, or staged confrontations against our dear leader.”

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‎On the other hand, concerned Ohanivo Women, in a statement by its Media Director, Chief Mrs. Nnennaya Okorie, characterised Mrs. Ohiri’s allegations as “emotional blackmail and a calculated attempt to sway public sentiment against the Honourable Minister.” The group pointed to what it described as repeated contradictions in Mrs. Ohiri’s account, arguing that “no credible claim survives repeated self-contradiction.”

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‎Referencing Umahi’s eight-year tenure as Ebonyi State Governor, the women’s group maintained he was “widely known for prudence, accountability, and good governance” and was not associated with any proven scandal throughout that period.

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‎The NYO went furthest in its demands, calling on security and regulatory agencies to investigate “the origin, intent and possible sponsorship behind these trending publications.” The organisation cited glaring inconsistencies in Mrs. Ohiri’s account including varying figures of ₦25 million and ₦250 million allegedly owed, and shifting timelines of 3, 9, and 12 years as evidence that the campaign may be coordinated.

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‎Describing the minister’s critics as a distraction from national development, the NYO warned that “Nigerian youths will resist any attempt to coerce or pressure the Honourable Minister into making any form of payment outside the dictates of the law.”

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‎In a notable move, the organisation announced it would confer on Umahi its Distinguished National Youth Merit Award of Excellence as Best Minister of the Year 2025, citing what it called his “demonstrable performance” in road infrastructure development.

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‎All three groups stressed that the matter involving Mrs. Ohiri is already before a court of competent jurisdiction and urged that due process be allowed to run its course rather than what the NYO termed “the court of social media opinion.”

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‎Minister Umahi has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of these releases.

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