The management of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu State has denied allegations that it prevented the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) from using its facility for a booked event. In a statement on Thursday, the company described the allegation as false. The NDC in Enugu State had alleged that Governor Peter Mbah blocked the opposition party from holding the event at the facility on Thursday.
According to the Amadeo Event Centre, the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, Sabastine Ezeh, had booked the facility on 7 October for a “National Meeting and Conference.” However, on 13 October, Mr Ezeh requested cancellation of the event and refund of the payment, which was later withdrawn. The client later confirmed a new date of October 29, 2026.
The event centre stated that on the morning of October 28, 2026, the decoration materials brought were for a political party and had nothing to do with the association, violating the contract for use of the place. Clause 17 of the agreement provides for the right to stop any event not properly or reasonably conducted in line with the agreement. The client was notified of the rescission of the right of use.
Upon receiving the notice of cancellation, Enugu State NDC officials and candidates entered the premises with security details. The event centre was taken aback by the change of the client from the association to an NDC political rally. Despite the contractual violation, the event centre allowed the NDC to use the facility to forestall a breach of peace.
The Amadeo Event Centre explained that it allowed the event to proceed after the organisers informed them it would now be used as a youth town hall meeting with Mr Peter Obi. The company maintained that it is not partisan and that its policy from inception has been to decline the use of the facility for political purposes.
The firm stressed that the Enugu State Government was never part of its decision to cancel the booking for contractual violation. Management received no instruction, directly or indirectly, from any government official as this was purely a contractual matter. The event centre also noted that the policemen seen in trending videos were escorts for some of the political aspirants.
The Amadeo Event Centre concluded that the whole event has been distorted and viewed through a partisan perspective because of the current political season. The company had taken a neutral stance in the matter, acting solely based on the contractual agreement with the client.
Key points
- The Amadeo Event Centre denied allegations of partisan interference in preventing the NDC from using its facility.
- The event was allowed to proceed after organisers changed it to a youth town hall meeting with Peter Obi.
- The Enugu State Government was not involved in the decision to cancel the booking.
