Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has refuted claims that he instructed the withdrawal of a private location for a town hall meeting set to include Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Enugu.
In a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, the governor labeled the allegation as untrue, asserting that he was not involved in the choice to refuse the organisers access to the facility.
“I recently noticed a video being shared on several social media platforms, claiming that I instructed the denial of a political party’s access to a private venue for their town hall event.” “This is absurd and completely untrue, as I did not,” Mbah stated.
He charged the opposition with trying to garner public attention through the claim, cautioning that freedom of expression does not cover defamation.
“This is disgraceful and shows a desperate strategy employed by the opposition to gain attention.” It is certain that democracy ensures the right to express oneself. “It is important to mention, nonetheless, that it does not give anyone the authority to defame others,” he stated.
Mbah stated that there were legal options for individuals seeking justice and cautioned against overstepping what he referred to as red lines.
Dan Nwomeh, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant, also supported him, asking why Mbah should take accountability for the lease of a privately owned property.
“What connection does Governor Mbah have to the leasing of a privately owned property?” “Some users on this app seem to enjoy placing blame on Governor Mbah for nearly everything,” Nwomeh posted on X.
He stated that the governor continued to concentrate on fulfilling his commitments and promoting the state’s progress, mentioning that the campaign season had not yet started.
The dispute arose after the Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu was no longer the location for a town hall meeting organized by the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which was set for Thursday, October 29, 2026.
A video shared on social media depicted NDC official, Princess Ada Ogbu, challenging venue staff regarding the decision, alleging that the state government had coerced the facility into canceling the event.
The meeting was anticipated to include Obi and Kwankwaso. As per the details associated with the video, the venue was canceled under 24 hours before the event despite having been paid for in advance.
