Nigeria: Enugu Govt Speaks On Alleged Blocking of Peter Obi, NDC From Using Campaign Venue

What the report says

The Enugu State Government has denied reports that Governor Peter Mbah ordered that Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) be blocked from using Michael Okpara Square in Enugu for a campaign rally. The account, reported by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, centers on allegations that the venue was withheld at the governor’s direction.

According to the statement from Rita Mbah, chairperson of the Enugu State Tourism Board, the governor had no role in the matter. She said a person seeking the venue was told it had already been booked weeks earlier for government and other events, and that the booking process was handled through the venue’s existing schedule. The tourism board oversees rental of the state-owned facility.

The official also said other applicants, including religious groups, had been unable to secure the venue because they applied after dates were taken. She rejected claims that the issue was politically motivated and said the story was being presented without documentary support. The dispute is significant because Michael Okpara Square is a prominent public venue in Enugu and questions over access can quickly become politically sensitive during campaign periods. More broadly, the episode reflects recurring tensions in Nigeria around use of state-owned public spaces for political activities.