Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has denied allegations that he ordered the withdrawal of a private event venue booked for a town hall meeting expected to feature Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The governor described the allegation as false, insisting that he had no involvement in the decision to prevent the organisers from using the facility.
Mbah made his position known in a statement shared on social media on Wednesday after a video emerged showing members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) protesting the reported withdrawal of the Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu.
“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 stated.
He accused the opposition of attempting to attract public attention through the allegation and warned that freedom of expression should not be used as a justification for defamation.
Mbah maintained that democratic principles allow individuals and political groups to express their views but also provide legal channels for addressing grievances.
“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.
The governor’s Senior Special Assistant, Dan Nwomeh, also defended him, questioning why Mbah should be held responsible for the decision of a privately owned event centre.
Nwomeh argued that the governor should not be blamed for every controversy involving political activities in the state, adding that the administration remained focused on delivering its development plans.
How the controversy started
The dispute followed reports that the management of Amadeo Event Centre had withdrawn permission for the NDC to use the facility for a town hall meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026.
The event was expected to feature Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, alongside Kwankwaso.
Organisers alleged that the venue was withdrawn less than 24 hours before the programme despite claims that payment had already been made.
A video circulating online showed NDC official Princess Ada Ogbu confronting venue staff over the development, with party members alleging that political pressure was responsible for the decision.
The NDC also accused the state government of interfering with its political activities and insisted that the planned engagement should proceed.
However, Mbah has rejected any suggestion that he ordered the cancellation, maintaining that the allegations against him are unfounded.
As the disagreement continues to attract attention, the circumstances surrounding the venue’s withdrawal remain central to the controversy, with the governor denying responsibility and the opposition raising concerns about its ability to organise political gatherings in the state.
