Following the kick-off of electioneering campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, a socio-political organisation in Ebonyi State, Ebonyi South Youth Assembly (ESYA), has called on the political parties in the state to emulate peaceful deposition by the All Progressives Congress APC in the state by playing by the rules of engagements in executing their campaigns.

In a statement issued in Abakaliki during the weekend, signed by its National President, Comrade Odii Njoku, the Youth Body urged various political parties to maintain peace and decorum during the period of campaign adding that lives and properties of everyone in the state matters a lot  irrespective of political affiliation.

According to the Assembly, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has promoted peace and unity in the state and that any attempt to truncate such peace will be strongly resisted by Ebonyi youths.

The Assembly also applauded the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha coordinating the party peacefully during the last local government elections which have been judged as most peaceful and transparents since the creation of Ebonyi State.

It further expressed the hope that the peaceful manner with which the just concluded local government elections in Ebonyi State was conducted was a clear indication that the All Progressive Congress (APC)  will also bequeath a peaceful and violent free election in 2027.

Moreover, the group urged other political parties in Ebonyi State to emulate the leadership style of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State and make peace their watchword.

The statement reads, “Ebonyi State ranks as one of the peaceful states in the federation, and as the campaigns have kicked off, we call on different political parties in Ebonyi State to operate within the ambit of the law.

“Every candidate of different political parties should base their campaigns on what they intend to do to the people of Ebonyi State. For those who are contesting for the first time, their campaigns should be issue based.

“We know that they are candidates who are seeking re-election. Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru we all know is seeking re-election and it is crystal clear that the governor has tremendously impacted positively on the lives of Ebonyi people. As such, the governor’s achievements should speak for him and determine his re-election.

“Political parties should not allow their supporters to take to violence and disrupt the existing peace in Ebonyi State. Political parties should educate their supporters not to take laws into their hands”.

“We will use all legal means against any political parties that allow her supporters to engage in any violent activities. Ebonyi is a peaceful state, and we should sustain it because no meaningful development can take place in the absence of peace”,the statement reads.

“We commend the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State for superintending over one of the peaceful local government area elections in Ebonyi State.

“We call on other political parties to emulate the leadership style of Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha. It’s very obvious that during the conduct of the just concluded council polls in Ebonyi State, there was no form of violence witnessed in any area of Ebonyi State, therefore, this is worth emulating”, the Assembly recalled.