The Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) has alleged that the sealing of its South East headquarters in Umuahia, Abia State, was a deliberate attempt to undermine the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and frustrate efforts to promote President Bola Tinubu’s programmes in the region.
RHP spokesman, Mr. Elton Onwu, in a statement, described the action as “vindictive,” insisting the property was sealed without prior notice solely because of its association with the Deputy Speaker. He noted that the organisation had renovated the building—abandoned for more than 30 years—before moving in as its South East coordinating office.
“We moved into the building in June 2025 after extensive renovation. One wonders why no tax notification was ever issued to the previous owners before the Renewed Hope Partners took over,” Onwu said.
He argued that the office serves as a hub for volunteers promoting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and urged the Abia State Government to “shun politics of bitterness.”
“We call on well-meaning Abians to condemn this attack. We will not be intimidated or silenced,” he added.
Otti: Sealing Was Part of Court-Ordered Enforcement, Not Politics
Governor Alex Otti, however, dismissed the claims of political victimisation. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the governor explained that the property was sealed as part of a wider enforcement of court orders on defaulting property owners in Umuahia and Aba.
According to the statement, the RHP office at 36 Ojike Street was among properties flagged for owing ground rent as far back as 1982, with the lease set to expire at the end of 2025.
The government said multiple demand notices were issued without response, prompting the state to obtain a court order before carrying out the sealing. The enforcement exercise, which began in August 2025, reportedly targeted 83 properties in Umuahia and 91 in Aba.
The governor noted that the office was unsealed after Deputy Speaker Kalu brought the matter to his attention, pending the regularisation of its documentation.
“This enforcement was not politically motivated. It was part of a general exercise targeting properties in default of statutory obligations,” the statement clarified.
Government records showed that several affected properties—including those belonging to the Sam Mbakwe family, a radio station, and facilities used by a government agency—were also unsealed after compliance or clarification.
The governor directed the Harmonised Task Force to continue enforcement “without compromise” but with increased oversight in “sensitive matters” to ensure fairness.
The statement added that churches, hospitals, and schools remain exempt from sealing due to their social service roles.
Mixed Reactions Trail the Incident
While RHP views the sealing as an attack on its political alignment, the Abia State Government insists it was a routine legal action. The incident has sparked fresh conversation around governance, political rivalry, and property compliance regulations in the state.
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