‘Demanding accountability is not cyberbullying’ — Odii replies Ogah

The 2027 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, has denied allegations by the lawmaker representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Chinedu Ogah, that he is sponsoring cyberbullying campaigns against the Ebonyi State Government.

Odii, popularly known as “AnyiChuks,” made the denial in a statement issued to journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, describing the allegation as baseless and an attempt to criminalise legitimate criticism of government policies.

He argued that holding elected officials accountable is a constitutional right of citizens and should not be labelled as cyberbullying or cyberstalking.

“Since when did asking questions become cyberbullying? Since when did demanding a scorecard become cyberstalking?” Odii asked.

The PDP candidate said Ebonyi residents deserved transparency on how public resources allocated to the state were being utilised, adding that citizens had the right to demand accountability and good governance.

According to him, criticism of government performance and policies is a fundamental part of democracy and should not be viewed as a personal attack.

Odii also denied allegations that he was influencing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register underage voters, describing the claim as reckless, defamatory and unsupported by evidence.

He challenged Ogah to present any evidence of wrongdoing to relevant security agencies rather than making what he described as unsubstantiated claims through the media.

The PDP governorship candidate said he would continue to criticise areas where the government falls short while acknowledging positive actions when necessary.

He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive development, stressing that a responsible opposition remains essential to democratic governance.

Odii added that he would not be intimidated into silence, saying the people of Ebonyi would ultimately decide the outcome of the 2027 governorship election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogah had earlier accused Odii, during a press conference, of sponsoring cyberbullying and propaganda against the Ebonyi State Government led by Governor Francis Nwifuru.