The Abia State Government on Tuesday, November 25, sealed a campaign office belonging to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political support structure, the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP), in Umuahia, citing violations of the state’s tax laws.
The office, situated along Ojike Street in the heart of Umuahia, was shut down by officials of the Ministry of Lands and Housing, who pasted an enforcement notice declaring the property non-compliant with provisions of the Abia State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law No. 7 of 2020.
The Renewed Hope Partners is a political mobilisation network backing President Tinubu’s administration, and is being promoted across the South-East by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. The sealing of its Umuahia office has sparked political debate and raised questions over the timing and intention of the state government’s action.
Government Cites Tax Contravention
A bold inscription placed at the entrance of the building read:
“Ministry of Lands and Housing. This property is in contravention of Sections 41 and 100 of the Abia State Tax Law (Codification and Consolidation), Law No. 7 of 2020. And it is hereby sealed.”
The notice further warned that anyone—including the owner, occupants, neighbours, or passers-by—who attempts to unseal or interfere with the property would be violating the same law.
The specific nature of the tax violation was not immediately disclosed, but officials familiar with such enforcement actions suggest it could be related to unpaid property charges, registration fees, or default in obtaining required business or occupancy documentation.
Political Undertone Sparks Reactions
The sealing has generated mixed reactions within Umuahia and across the political landscape. While the Abia State Government has yet to issue an official statement beyond the enforcement notice, some political observers have described the action as potentially politically motivated, given the office’s affiliation with the President and its role in expanding APC structures in the South-East, where the ruling party struggles to gain firm ground.
Supporters of the Renewed Hope Partners argued that it is unusual for such a high-profile political office to be sealed without prior dialogue between the institution and the state authorities.
A member of the group who spoke anonymously expressed suspicion over the timing, saying:
“This is clearly intimidation. If there was any tax issue, the government should have notified us first. This looks more political than administrative.”
Deputy Speaker’s Structure Under Scrutiny
Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who has been at the forefront of promoting Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda in the region, has heavily invested in grassroots mobilisation and political realignment across the South-East. The sealing of the Umuahia office marks the first major administrative clampdown on one of the RHP’s regional centres since the network expanded after the 2023 general elections.
While the Deputy Speaker had not issued an official response as of press time, close allies suggest that the matter will be addressed formally after consultations with the APC leadership and the President’s political advisory team.
Government Yet to Provide Further Clarification
The Abia Ministry of Lands and Housing has maintained silence beyond the posted notice. Efforts by journalists to reach officials for detailed explanation on the specific breaches of Sections 41 and 100 of the tax law were unsuccessful.
Section 41 of the Abia Tax Law generally deals with compliance obligations for property owners, while Section 100 addresses sanctions, penalties, and enforcement measures for defaulters.
Legal analysts say that while the government is within its rights to enforce tax compliance, the political sensitivity surrounding the sealed property means that a clearer explanation is necessary to avoid misinterpretation.
Public Reaction and Security Presence
Residents around Ojike Street reported that enforcement officers arrived early in the day, sealed the entrance, and left without incident. A moderate security presence was observed shortly afterward to prevent unauthorized access or tampering with the seal.
Some locals expressed concerns that the development could heighten political tension in the state, especially between supporters of the ruling Labour Party in Abia and the APC-aligned network backing Tinubu.
Others argue that no individual or group—political or otherwise—should be exempt from complying with state laws.
Next Steps
It remains unclear whether the Renewed Hope Partners will challenge the action legally or seek an administrative resolution through dialogue with the Abia State Government.
Political watchers say the situation may escalate if the state government fails to clarify its position or if the APC structure perceives it as targeted suppression ahead of intensified preparations for the 2027 elections.
For now, the sealed building stands as a visible flashpoint in Abia’s evolving political climate, raising fresh questions about the interaction between law enforcement and political competition in the region.
