The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has raised concerns over the alleged refusal of the Rivers state Government to allow the party use the Adokiye Amesimaka Sports Complex in the Greater Port Harcourt City for its presidential campaign rally on 28th of January.
State Secretary of the PDP, Ibiba Walter, who made the claim in a statement, said that the APC was yet to come out with a reasonable excuse for denying the PDP from using the stadium.
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Chief Davis Ikanya had told DAILY POST in an interview that the Adokiye Amesimaka Sports Complex was still under construction.
Chief Ikanya claimed that on occasions when the APC used the new stadium for its rallies, the contractor had gone on break.
However, the APC Chairman advised the PDP to re-apply for permission to use the stadium, which he said might be considered by the state government.
“There are venues for rallies. They have not used that place before. When the contractors were on holidays, they did not apply for the place. Now that the contractors are fully back, they are just applying.
“The Executive Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi wants to complete that stadium and hand it over before he leaves office.
“Now the PDP is threatening that the Governor must obey them. You see, they have now turned themselves to governor of Rivers state.
“If you apply for something, it is either it is approved or not. You cannot take laws into your hands. This is why we are saying that the PDP is living above the Law. If they have applied for it and it was not approved, the proper thing to do is to reapply,” APC said.
However, in a reaction, the State Chairman of the PDP faulted the Governor’s alleged action, arguing that the new stadium was built with public funds.
He warned that if the State Government failed to voluntarily release the venue, the PDP might use force to secure the Adokiye Amesimaka Sports Complex for its presidential rally.
Obuah insisted that, “Rivers State money was used to build it. It is not meant for Buhari’s campaign manager (Amaechi).
“It is not his personal property. They have used it for their own rally and their celebration. We have applied to use it for our own rally come 28th of this month but the Governor in his impunity has refused us to use that place.
“We dare him, come 28th, we are going to use that place. I have made official complaint to the police, the DSS and all the law enforcing agents. I also want all the citizenry of Rivers State to be aware of this.
“They have used this same property two times without any problem. We are saying for peace to reign, he (Amaechi) has to release that stadium.”
