The management of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu State has allegedly reneged on a fully paid contract to host a town hall meeting for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), less than 24 hours before the scheduled event. The event centre, located along Ebeano Tunnel Road, had been paid for weeks in advance. However, when NDC leaders arrived at the venue on Wednesday afternoon to ensure the premises were cleaned ahead of Thursday’s meeting, the manager reportedly informed them that the facility could no longer be used.
According to sources, the manager claimed that the owner of the facility, Pastor Ugo Chime, was under intense pressure to ensure the event did not hold. Chime allegedly told NDC officials that he was being pressured not to rent out the facility for Obi’s town hall meeting. Efforts by SaharaReporters to reach Chime for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not answer multiple calls made to his phone. The development has sparked outrage among NDC leaders, who accuse Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and other All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in the South-East of attempting to frustrate Obi’s activities and campaign in the region.
NDC officials, including some senatorial candidates, have condemned the development, describing it as part of what they see as sustained attempts to frustrate the party and its presidential candidate in the state. In a video clip shared with SaharaReporters, the NDC’s Enugu East senatorial candidate, Princess Ada Ogbu, said that they are trying to stop Peter Obi from having a Town Hall meeting in the state but it will be resisted. The incident comes amid a series of reported attacks and disruptions targeting the NDC and its supporters in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa, led other candidates and party leaders to the centre and was attempting to resolve the dispute as of the time of filing this report. An insider told SaharaReporters that the venue’s management was reminded that withdrawing from the agreement after receiving full payment could constitute a breach of contract and expose it to legal action. The source, however, said the management remained unwilling to reverse its decision.
As of the time of filing this report, NDC leaders were still at the event centre, making frantic calls to influential individuals, including church leaders, in an attempt to persuade the management to allow the meeting to proceed. One of the managers reportedly said openly that even if they breached the contract, the state government owns the court and judges, and they can frustrate any potential legal fallout arising from it. The escalating tensions have also drawn the attention of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety).
The threatened cancellation of Thursday’s town hall meeting has raised fresh concerns about the ability of opposition parties to organise political activities without intimidation or disruption. Obi has repeatedly called on security agencies to investigate the reported political violence in Enugu State and prosecute anyone found culpable. He has maintained that no political ambition can justify the killing of Nigerians and that no governor is above the law.
Key points
- The NDC has accused Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and other APC governors in the South-East of attempting to frustrate Obi’s activities and campaign in the region.
- The incident comes amid a series of reported attacks and disruptions targeting the NDC and its supporters in Enugu State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- Obi has repeatedly called on security agencies to investigate the reported political violence in Enugu State and prosecute anyone found culpable.
