Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has denied allegations that he ordered the management of a private event centre in the state to withdraw its venue from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the NDC were supposed to use the venue for a town hall meeting scheduled to feature the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Mbah described the allegation as “preposterous and utter falsehood,” insisting that he did not give any instruction to prevent the opposition party from using the facility for its political gathering.
The governor made his position known in a post on X on Wednesday, following reports that the management of Amadeo Event Centre, located along the Ebeano Tunnel in Enugu, had withdrawn the venue less than 24 hours before the scheduled event.
Reacting to a video circulating on social media over the controversy, Mbah said he had only recently become aware of the allegation and rejected claims that he was responsible for the development.
“My attention has just been drawn to a video circulating on some social media platforms, alleging that I gave an order denying a political party use of a private facility for their townhall event. This is preposterous and utter falsehood, because I did not,” the governor wrote.
He accused the opposition of attempting to attract public attention through what he described as a desperate pattern of allegations.
“This is shameful and reveals a desperate pattern adopted by the opposition to attract attention,” Mbah added.
The governor also warned against what he considered defamatory statements, arguing that although democracy protects freedom of expression, it does not give individuals the right to make defamatory claims against others.
“There’s no doubt that democracy guarantees freedom of expression. It should be noted, however, that it does not grant anyone the right to defamation,” he said.
Mbah further noted that democratic institutions provide avenues for seeking redress when individuals believe their rights have been violated.
“Democracy also offers avenues to seek redress. So, let it be known that there are red lines that should never be crossed,” the governor stated.
The controversy followed an earlier allegation by the NDC that the management of Amadeo Event Centre had withdrawn permission for the party to use the facility despite payment having reportedly been made weeks before the scheduled town hall meeting.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Hon. Sampson Ukwu, media aide to the NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, the party alleged that the last-minute withdrawal was an attempt to frustrate its political activities in the state.
The NDC said it had secured the venue for Thursday, October 29, at 2 p.m., for an engagement involving Obi and Kwankwaso.
“We had already locked down the venue for Thursday, 29th 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,” the statement read.
The party insisted that the reported withdrawal would not stop the meeting, declaring that it remained determined to engage residents of the state despite the dispute.
According to the earlier report, the owner of the event centre, Pastor Ugo Chime, allegedly told NDC officials that he was under pressure from the state government not to rent the facility for Obi’s event.
The report also alleged that when party officials raised concerns about the cancellation and the possibility of legal action over a breach of contract, a manager at the facility claimed that the state government controlled the courts and judges and could frustrate any legal consequences.
The NDC’s governorship candidate, Ohaa, had condemned the reported withdrawal, accusing unnamed political interests of attempting to obstruct the opposition’s activities.
“No amount of desperation will stop the will of the people. We will hold our Town Hall Meeting. Peter Obi and Kwankwaso will speak to Ndi Enugu. The message of rescue and a new Nigeria will be delivered,” Ohaa said.
He added that attempts to frustrate the party by withdrawing venues at short notice would not prevent it from proceeding with its planned engagement.
“Those who think they can frustrate us by withdrawing venues at the last minute only expose their fear. We are not afraid. We are ready,” he declared.
The party also called on Mbah to ensure that the meeting could take place without interference, warning that further disruptions could raise concerns about political tolerance in the state.
“A government that truly believes in democracy should not be seen to be working against peaceful gatherings of the opposition,” the NDC said.
