Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
The Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly (EEYA), a socio-cultural youth organisation in Ebonyi State, has alleged that its leaders and members are facing threats, harassment and intimidation following the group’s endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, for the 2027 governorship election.
Addressing a press conference in Abakaliki on Friday, the National President of the association, Comrade Sunday Orogwu, alleged that some individuals had threatened to burn down the homes of the group’s members and kill them over the endorsement.
Orogwu claimed that the alleged intimidation had intensified since the association publicly declared support for Odii’s governorship ambition.
“We are here today to draw the attention of Nigerian security agencies, the people of Ebonyi State, Nigerians at large and all lovers of democracy and the rule of law to the threats, harassment and intimidation being meted out to leaders and members of the Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly, our parents, stakeholders and supporters,” he said.
He further alleged that “agents of the Ebonyi State Government” had been moving from one Ezza community to another, harassing members of the group and issuing threats.
“These government agents have threatened to burn down our houses and even kill us. They have also vowed to chase us away from our various communities,” Orogwu alleged.
He maintained that the EEYA, established in 2021, is a legitimate civic organisation with the constitutional right to freely associate and support any political party or candidate of its choice.
“It is our constitutional right to support anyone we believe has the capacity to address the economic and social challenges confronting Ebonyi State. We remain resolute in our endorsement of Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii,” he stated.
The group called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the military to protect the democratic rights of citizens, regardless of their political affiliation.
EEYA insisted it would not be intimidated, stressing that Ebonyi State belongs to all its citizens and that every resident has the right to participate freely in the political process.
The association also urged political parties, community leaders and the state government to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens and ensure that political campaigns are conducted without intimidation or violence.
“The essence of political campaigns is for politicians to present their programmes and achievements to the electorate, not to threaten those with opposing views. We call on our members to remain steadfast as we shall collectively resist every form of intimidation, harassment and threats,” the group said.