A youth group in Imo State 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 for his 2027 Imo State governorship ambition.
In a statement made available to this newspaper 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 Duru 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.”
Adding their voice, the Imo Widows Support Forum (IWSF) also condemned the alleged intimidation, describing it as an attempt to “silence the democratic choices of ordinary people, especially the vulnerable.” Speaking through their Chairperson, Mrs. Clarissa Udeh, the widows warned that any form of harassment against citizens who freely align with Amadi’s political movement would be strongly resisted.
“Widows and less-privileged persons have found hope in Dr. Amadi’s message of inclusion and empowerment. We will not fold our arms while politicians try to drag us back to politics of intimidation,” she declared.
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 genuine leadership renewal,” stressing that no amount of pressure would stop the people from rallying behind him.
The youth leader concluded with a call 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.
