A youth group in Imo State, Imo Progressive Youth Alliance, has cautioned former Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s camp against what they described as “sustained harassment” of political supporters aligned with The Mazi Organization (TMO), a movement founded by Dr. Chima Amadi for the mobilization and networking towards his 2027 Imo State governorship ambition.
In a statement in Owerri on Wednesday, signed by Comrade Barnabas Ekeh, Coordinator of the Imo Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), the group alleged that Ihedioha’s camp has recently intensified efforts to reach out to some of his estranged loyalists who have openly identified with Amadi’s growing political movement.
According to Comrade Ekeh, these overtures have in many cases taken the form of undue pressure aimed at forcing people back into the fold.
The group further disclosed that some of Ihedioha’s previous supporters who now back Amadi have expressed discomfort over the sustained calls and pressure from the camp to abandon their new political base.
Comrade Ekeh described the development as “an anti-democratic act that has no place in modern politics,” adding, “we find it disturbing that rather than focus on promoting issues-based politics, Ihedioha’s camp has chosen to hound supporters who, in the exercise of their rights, have found a new political home under Dr. Chima Amadi.”
The group insisted that politics in Imo has moved beyond this level.
“Let it be clear that nobody owns the political destiny of Imo people. We therefore call on Ihedioha’s camp to desist from this unwholesome practice and allow democracy to thrive.” part of the statement read.
Comrade Ekeh praised Dr. Amadi for “giving voice to the yearnings of Imo people, for speaking truth to power, reaching out to the poor, and championing genuine leadership renewal, stressing that no amount of pressure would stop the people from rallying behind him.
The youth leader concluded with an appeal on security agencies and civil society organizations to closely monitor the situation and ensure that no citizen is victimized for exercising his or her democratic rights.
