Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has withdrawn the approval given to former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar to use Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium in Ikwerre Local Government Area for presidential campaign.
This follows the discovery by the state government that Atiku campaign organisation was collaborating with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Arch. Tonye Cole, to access the facility for the presidential campaign.
A letter dated January 31, 2023 from the state Commissioner of Sports, Barrister Christopher Green, stated that the “credible intelligence available to Rivers State government and recent developments” revealed the intention of Atiku campaign organisation to share the approved facility with the APC.
The letter further stated that given the “credible intelligence” and to protect the stadium from potential damage, the state government had decided to withdraw the approval for its use for Atiku’s presidential campaign.
Efforts to contact the Spokesman of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation in Rivers State, Dr Lenu Nwibubasa, were unsuccessful.
Governor Wike, who leads the G-5 group, had promised to name their preferred candidate in January but had not done so as of Tuesday, the last day of the month. He had also vowed to campaign throughout the country for his choice of presidential candidate.