Ebonyi Youth Assembly reports threats to members’ lives for supporting PDP governorship candidate

The Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly (EEYA) has alleged that its members were facing threats, intimidation and harassment from operatives suspected to be Ebonyi State Government officials, following the group’s endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki on Friday, the group’s national president, Comrade Sunday Nwankwo, said the threats began shortly after the group unanimously approved Odii, describing the development as an “attack on democratic rights and freedom of association”.

Nwankwo alleged that government agents had moved from community to community, allegedly harassing leaders, parents, stakeholders and group members for approval.

He also complained that some members had received death threats, and that some individuals had threatened to bomb their homes, expel them from their communities and disrupt their activities because of their political choice.

“The threats started on the evening of July 11, soon after we supported Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii. Some of our members in different local government areas were threatened by senior politicians in government, simply because they exercised their constitutional right to support a candidate of their choice,” he said.

The youth leader said the youth assembly, founded in 2010, is a legitimate organization committed to promoting good governance and civic participation, adding that its members have the constitutional right to associate with any political party.

He, therefore, called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Army to protect the democratic rights of all Ebonyi citizens, regardless of political affiliation.