Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has refuted allegations that he was accountable for the reported withdrawal of approval initially granted to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to use Amadeo Event Centre for the social gathering’s planned city corridor assembly on Thursday (at the moment).
The NDC’s allegation
Sampson Ukwu, the media aide to the NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Christian Chinyeaka, had urged in a statement on Wednesday that Mr Mbah was behind the occasion centre’s sudden change of thoughts after approval of the venue for Thursday’s occasion.
“We had already locked down the venue for Thursday, twenty ninth October 2026 at 2:00 pm.
“The last-minute withdrawal, coming after public allegations of interference, is yet another attempt to disrupt the peaceful political activities of the opposition in Enugu State,” Mr Ukwu mentioned.
The media aide mentioned the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his working mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, have been billed to converse on the occasion.
He vowed the occasion should go forward regardless of intimidation towards the NDC.
“Mr Peter Obi, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, and your entire NDC household in Enugu can’t be intimidated.
“We have faced worse. We will not be stopped by venue withdrawals, administrative pressure, or any form of political obstruction,” he mentioned.
A video clip accompanying the assertion confirmed NDC supporters suggesting the state authorities should have ordered the occasion centre to withdraw its approval to cease the planned NDC occasion.
In the assertion, Mr Ukwu mentioned the NDC has urged Governor Mbah to guarantee Thursday’s occasion goes on easily, within the spirit of equity and maturity.
“A authorities that actually believes in democracy shouldn’t be seen to be working towards peaceable gatherings of the opposition.
“Any further disruption will only confirm what Ndi Enugu already know,” he mentioned.
‘It’s shameful’
Reacting in a Facebook post on Wednesday night time, Mr Mbah described the allegations of blocking the NDC’s occasion as false.
“This is preposterous and utter falsehood, because I did not,” he mentioned.
The governor harassed that Amadeo Event Centre is a non-public facility and urged it was unlikely he would order a non-public enterprise to block the opposition social gathering from holding its occasion.
“This is shameful and reveals a desperate pattern adopted by the opposition to attract attention,” he mentioned.
‘Free speech, not freedom to defame’
Mr Mbah harassed that though democracy ensures freedom of speech, it’s not a license to defame others.
“Democracy also offers avenues to seek redress. So, let it be known that there are red lines that should never be crossed,” he warned.
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