Cyberbullying allegations levelled against Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii have been dismissed as baseless, with the businessman defending citizens’ right to demand accountability from government.
Mr. Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Ebonyi State, has dismissed allegations that he is sponsoring cyberbullying against the state government, describing the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
Odii, a businessman made the remarks in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday in Abakaliki. He was reacting to allegations by the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Mr. Chinedu Ogah, who accused him of sponsoring cyberbullying and propaganda against the Ebonyi State Government.
According to Odii, the allegations are an attempt to criminalise legitimate criticism and divert public attention from governance issues in the state.
He maintained that demanding accountability from elected public officials is a constitutional right and should not be interpreted as cyberbullying or cyberstalking.
“Since when did asking questions become cyberbullying? Since when did demanding a scorecard become cyberstalking?” Odii asked.
The PDP governorship candidate said the people of Ebonyi deserve to know how public resources allocated to the state have been utilised, insisting that transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of democratic governance.
He argued that criticism of government policies and performance is a legitimate feature of democracy and should not be viewed as a personal attack on public office holders.
Responding to Ogah’s challenge regarding his contributions to the development of Ebonyi State, Odii highlighted the activities of the Odii Foundation and his private investments across the state’s 13 local government areas.
He claimed that more than 20,000 youths and women have benefited from grants, vocational training and start-up support, while over 5,000 students have received local and international scholarships through his interventions.
Odii also stated that agro-processing and information technology hubs established in Afikpo, Onicha and Abakaliki have created employment opportunities for young people.
He further said his foundation has provided free medical outreach programmes, health insurance for vulnerable persons and constructed more than 1,500 houses for widows and other indigent residents.
The PDP candidate challenged Ogah to verify the claims, insisting that beneficiaries of the programmes are spread across communities in Ebonyi State.
Odii also denied allegations that he was influencing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register underage voters, describing the accusation as reckless, defamatory and unsupported by evidence.
He urged the lawmaker to submit any evidence in his possession to the appropriate security agencies instead of making what he described as unsubstantiated allegations through the media.
According to Odii, his ambition to govern Ebonyi State is driven by a commitment to improve governance and accelerate development. He pledged to continue commending the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru where it performs well while constructively criticising areas that require improvement.
Odii reaffirmed his commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive development, stressing that responsible opposition is essential to a healthy democracy. He maintained that Ebonyi residents deserve improved healthcare, quality education, employment opportunities, agricultural development and prudent management of public resources.
The PDP governorship candidate added that he would not be intimidated into silence, expressing confidence that the people of Ebonyi State would determine the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.
The allegations followed a recent press conference in which Chinedu Ogah accused Odii of sponsoring cyberbullying and propaganda against the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
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