The Rivers State Government has revoked the prior approval of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium given to the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign for a rally in Port Harcourt scheduled for Saturday, February 11, 2023.
A statement signed by the State Sports Commissioner, Christopher Green, said the withdrawal follows intelligence reliable to the government and new developments that indicate that the presidential campaign organization is working with the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tonye Cole.
The statement said that the plan of the PDP is to share and accommodate the APC faction in approved facilities.
The statement further emphasized that APC rallies are usually marred by violence due to internal crises.
He said that the government would not destroy the valuable assets and therefore decided to withdraw the previously approved facilities given to the PDP presidential campaign for use.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers, Leloonu Nwibubase, who confirmed the development said he was not surprised by the governor’s action.
He said he was aware that the approval given by the governor was a Greek gift stressing that he was not confused by the development.
When asked if he made alternative arrangements to hold the rally, he said: “For us, I will say clearly that the Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State is not rattled. What happened is not surprising so we have options on the table.
“We will talk to PDP supporters and supporters of the presidential candidate in large numbers. We will continue our campaign. We strongly believe that the main goal is for Rivers to choose Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential Candidate and we will succeed. We will open our options”.