By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly (EEYA) has raised the alarm over alleged threats, intimidation, harassment and threatening of arson against their members by agents of the state government.

EEYA said that the threats began immediately after they threw their weight behind the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Briefing journalists in Abakaliki on Friday, the National President of the Assembly, Comrade Sunday Nwankwo, described the development as an attack on democratic rights and freedom of association.

He alleged that agents of the Ebonyi State Government have been moving round from one community to the other harassing leaders, parents, stakeholders and members of the Assembly over their support of the PDP candidate.

According him, some members have received death threats, with some individuals reportedly threatening to bomb their houses, chase them out of their communities and disrupt their businesses because of their political choice.

“The threats started on the evening of July 11, immediately after we backed Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii. Some of our members in different local government areas have been threatened by highly placed politicians in government simply because they exercised their constitutional right to support a candidate of their choice," Nwankwo said.

The youth leader maintained that the Ezza Ezekuna Youth Assembly, established in 2010, is a lawful organisation committed to promoting good governance and civic participation, adding that its members have the constitutional right to associate with any political party.

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

Nwankwo urged the Ebonyi State Government, political parties and community leaders to ensure that campaigns are conducted peacefully, insisting that elections should be won through ideas and programmes rather than threats and intimidation.

He, however, declared that members of the Assembly would remain resolute despite the alleged intimidation, saying that they would continue to defend their constitutional rights and support their preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

When contacted on the development, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Ikeuwa Omebeh, did not react to the allegations. He told News Express to book an appointment.

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