Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has revoked a permit he earlier issued to the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which allowed it to use Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for its February 11 campaign rally.
The revocation was contained in a letter addressed to the director general of the PCC, Aminu Tambuwal, by the Rivers state commissioner for youths and sports, Christopher Green.
According to Mr Green, the permission was revoked over an alleged collusion between the PCC and a faction of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tonye Patrick Cole.
He claimed that Cole’s faction of the APC has antecedent of violence.
“Credible intelligence available to the Government of Rivers State and recent developments now show that your Presidential Campaign Organization is working in collaboration and in-cahoots with a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State led by Tonye Patrick Cole and that it is the intention of your Presidential Campaign Organization to accommodate and share the approved facility for your campaign with the said faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Government records show that the activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have always been marred by violence due largely to irreconcilable internal conflicts within the party including shootings and killings in the course of protests arising from the nomination process of delegates for primaries (Sahara Reporters, May 18, 2022) and detonation of explosives in the course of Campaigns (Explosion recks APC Campaign in Rivers – Thisdaylive.com, 20 January, 2023), see also Punch Newspaper of 26* May, 2022.
“The Rivers State Government is unable to risk damage to or destruction of the very valuable and priced asset, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium which your use of the same in collaboration with your Tone Patrick Cole APC faction will definitely expose it to.
“In the circumstance, the Rivers State Government has come to the painful but inevitable decision to withdraw the approval earlier given to you for the use of the stadium and the said approval is hereby withdrawn,” the letter read.
