KEY POINTS
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Mbah denies ordering the withdrawal of Obi’s Enugu event venue.
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The NDC town hall was scheduled for October 29 with Obi and Kwankwaso.
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The reason for the venue’s withdrawal remains unclear.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has denied allegations that he ordered the withdrawal of a private event centre booked for a town hall meeting involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The meeting, organised under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) banner, was scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu.
The controversy erupted after the venue was reportedly withdrawn less than 24 hours before the event, despite claims that the organisers had already paid for its use.
In a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, Mbah described allegations linking him to the decision as false, insisting that he had no involvement in the matter.
The governor’s denial followed the circulation of a social media video showing NDC official Princess Ada Ogbu confronting staff at the event centre over the cancellation.
Governor rejects allegations of interference
Mbah said he became aware of the allegations after a video began circulating on social media, suggesting that he had directed the facility to deny the political party access to the venue.
He rejected the claims, describing them as false and insisting that he had not issued any such instruction.
The governor also accused opposition figures of using the controversy to attract public attention.
He argued that although democracy guarantees freedom of expression, it does not give individuals the right to make defamatory allegations against others.
Mbah added that those who believed they had legitimate grievances could pursue available legal remedies. He also warned against making accusations that could cross legal boundaries.
The governor’s response sought to distance his administration from the dispute over the privately owned facility.
Aide questions governor’s involvement
Mbah’s Senior Special Assistant, Dan Nwomeh, also defended the governor, questioning why he was being held responsible for a private venue’s decision to withdraw its facilities.
In a post on X, Nwomeh asked what connection the governor had to the rental arrangement, suggesting that some social media users routinely blamed Mbah for issues unrelated to his administration.
He maintained that the governor remained focused on fulfilling his promises and advancing development in Enugu State.
Nwomeh also pointed out that the campaign period had not begun, pushing back against suggestions that the dispute was connected to the political activities surrounding the proposed meeting.
Neither the governor’s statement nor his aide’s response, as reported, established why the event centre withdrew its venue.
Obi and Kwankwaso were expected at the meeting
The town hall meeting was organised under the NDC banner and was expected to feature Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, alongside his running mate, Kwankwaso.
The event was intended to bring the political figures before participants in Enugu, but the withdrawal of the venue raised questions about whether the meeting could proceed as planned.
A video circulating online showed NDC official Princess Ada Ogbu confronting staff at the Amadeo Event Centre over the decision.
Claims accompanying the footage alleged that the state government had pressured the facility to cancel the booking. However, Mbah denied any involvement, and the allegations of government pressure remain unsubstantiated in the report.
The reported timing of the withdrawal, less than a day before the scheduled meeting, added to the controversy, particularly given claims that payment had already been made.
Dispute raises questions over access to political venues
The disagreement has drawn attention to the circumstances under which private facilities withdraw bookings for political events and the importance of establishing the reasons behind such decisions.
For political organisers, last-minute changes to venue arrangements can disrupt planning, logistics and communication with participants. Such disruptions may also generate political controversy when prominent candidates are involved.
However, the available report does not establish the reason the event centre cancelled the arrangement or provide an independent account from the facility’s management explaining its decision.
Mbah has maintained that he played no role in the withdrawal, while his aide has questioned the basis for linking the governor to a private rental dispute.
The circumstances surrounding the cancellation therefore remain unresolved in the reported account.
