The Ebonyi South Youth Assembly (ESYA), a socio-political organisation in Ebonyi State, has warned political parties and their supporters against actions capable of undermining the prevailing peace in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group urged political parties participating in the electioneering process to conduct their campaigns within the ambit of the law, stressing that political contests should be anchored on issues, policies and development programmes rather than violence, character assassination and political provocation.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki at the weekend, the National President of ESYA, Odii Njoku, said Ebonyi youths would resist any attempt by political actors to destabilise the state or jeopardise the peace required for sustainable development.
The group said the commencement of political campaigns for the 2027 elections made it imperative for all stakeholders to demonstrate political maturity and respect for the rules of engagement.
“Ebonyi State ranks as one of the peaceful states in the federation, and as the campaigns have kicked off, we call on different political parties in Ebonyi State to operate within the ambit of the law,” Njoku said.
He urged candidates contesting elective positions, particularly those seeking office for the first time, to make their campaigns issue-based and clearly articulate what they intend to offer the people.
“Every candidate of different political parties should base their campaigns on what they intend to do to the people of Ebonyi State. For those who are contesting for the first time, their campaigns should be issue-based,” he said.
The organisation also expressed support for Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru's re-election bid, arguing that his record in office should form the basis of the electorate's assessment.
According to ESYA, Nwifuru's performance should speak for him at the polls rather than allowing supporters or political opponents to resort to violence in the course of the campaign.
“We know that there are candidates who are seeking re-election. Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, we all know, is seeking re-election and it is crystal clear that the governor has tremendously impacted positively on the lives of Ebonyi people.
“As such, the governor's achievements should speak for him and determine his re-election,” the statement said.
The group warned political parties against allowing their supporters to take the law into their own hands, saying it would deploy lawful means to challenge any conduct capable of threatening the state's peace.
“Therefore, we shall not tolerate a situation where political parties would allow their supporters to take to violence and disrupt the existing peace in Ebonyi State.
“Political parties should educate their supporters not to take laws into their hands. We shall employ all acceptable means, including all legal means, against any political party that allows its supporters to engage in any violent activities,” ESYA said.
The Assembly maintained that peace remained a critical prerequisite for development, urging political actors to protect the state's relative stability irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Ebonyi is a peaceful state, and we should sustain it because no meaningful development can take place in the absence of peace,” it added.
The youth organisation also commended the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly its Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, over what it described as the peaceful conduct of the recently concluded local government elections in the state.
ESYA said the conduct of the council polls demonstrated that political leadership could organise electoral contests without resorting to violence.
“We commend the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State for superintending over one of the peaceful local government area elections in Ebonyi State. We call on other political parties to emulate the leadership style of Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha,” the group said.
It urged other political parties in the state to emulate what it described as the peaceful approach adopted during the council elections and make peace, tolerance and issue-based engagement central to their 2027 campaigns.
The organisation expressed the hope that the political atmosphere surrounding the 2027 elections would remain peaceful, allowing the electorate to freely assess candidates and make informed choices at the polls.
