By Ijeoma Agbafo
The 2027 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii, has dismissed allegations by the member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Mr Chinedu Ogah, that he was sponsoring cyberbullying against the state government.
In a statement issued to journalists in Abakaliki on Tuesday, Odii described the allegation as baseless, insisting that demanding accountability from elected public officials was a constitutional right and should not be mistaken for cyberbullying or cyberstalking. He maintained that constructive criticism was an essential part of democracy and called for transparency in the management of public resources.
The businessman, popularly known as “AnyiChuks”, also defended his contributions to the state’s development, saying the Odii Foundation had empowered more than 20,000 youths and women through grants, vocational training and start-up support. At the same time, over 5,000 students had benefited from local and foreign scholarships. He added that the foundation had provided healthcare interventions and built more than 1,500 houses for widows and vulnerable residents across the state.
Odii further denied allegations that he was influencing officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register underage voters, describing the claim as defamatory and without evidence. He challenged Ogah to submit any proof to the appropriate security agencies instead of making what he termed unsubstantiated allegations in the media.
He pledged to continue advocating transparency, accountability and inclusive development, saying he would commend the Gov. Francis Nwifuru administration where necessary while constructively criticising areas requiring improvement.
