Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Rivers State Government has formally denied allegations that it blocked a pro‑President Bola Tinubu political rally by denying access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, saying the facility is currently under reconstruction and unsafe for public use. The dispute has intensified political tensions in the state as the 2027 general election cycle gains momentum.
The controversy erupted on Friday when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Ambassador Desmond Akawor, Chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Rivers State, accused the state government of refusing to grant the group permission to use the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, for the inauguration of state‑wide coordinators of the pro‑Tinubu support movement. They claimed the denial was politically motivated and aimed at undermining their mobilisation efforts.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a powerful figure in national politics, addressed supporters during an event that was later relocated to the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. At that gathering, he asserted that the application to use the stadium had been refused and warned that future attempts to secure access would be met with force, stating that “heaven will not fall” if the facility were broken into for political rallies.
Responding to these allegations, the Rivers State Government described the claims as “false and misleading” and stressed that the situation is entirely grounded in safety considerations, not political bias. Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, said the stadium’s reconstruction work rendered it unfit for public gatherings, noting that ongoing construction made it impossible for any group to use the facility at this time.
An official inspection tour of the site, led by the Commissioner for Sports and Attorney‑General, Christopher Green, alongside the site engineer, highlighted significant construction hazards. They reported that essential infrastructure, including extensive piped installations beneath the main pitch, remained exposed and vulnerable, posing risks to large gatherings and potentially damaging key structural elements of the renovation project.
Green also emphasised that no formal application had been submitted to his office for the stadium’s use, challenging assertions that a request was denied. The state government underlined that alternative venues owned by the government — such as the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic and the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium — are available for public and political events, reinforcing their claim that the situation does not reflect a ban on rallies but rather a matter of facility safety and logistics.
The stadium’s reconstruction, being carried out by a contracted firm, is aimed at upgrading the facility to international standards, including compliance with global football and athletics regulations. Officials warned that allowing heavy foot traffic or large crowds at this stage could undermine the investment and even cause irreversible damage to sensitive engineering work.
In its public statement, the Rivers State Government urged political leaders and actors to prioritise state interests over partisan narratives that might inflame divisions. Sirawoo reiterated that the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara remains fully supportive of development initiatives and has not sought to block legitimate political activity in the state. The government maintained that all procedures for applying to use public facilities are open and that no political group is being singled out for exclusion.
Political analysts suggest that the dispute reflects broader friction between federal political actors and the state government, against the backdrop of shifting alliances and preparations for the 2027 general elections. Wike’s assertive posture and his threat to use force if access continues to be denied signal deepening contestation over political space in Rivers State, which remains a highly strategic and contested area in national politics. His intervention is seen as part of efforts to assert influence over mobilisation campaigns ahead of national polls.
Observers have noted that similar tensions have emerged in previous political cycles when access to public facilities became focal points of contention between competing political factions. In this context, the conversation over stadium access has quickly transcended facility management to become emblematic of lingering rivalries within the state’s political class, especially between Wike and Governor Fubara, who have had a fraught relationship since the latter assumed office.
The government’s emphasis on safety and adherence to reconstruction timelines comes as Rivers State continues to invest in critical infrastructure, even as political actors navigate an increasingly charged environment. Authorities have indicated that once reconstruction is complete and safety is assured, the Yakubu Gowon Stadium will be reopened for public and political events, subject to formal applications and standard approval processes.
For now, the immediate dispute remains unresolved, with political groups emphasising their rights to mobilisation and access to public venues, and the state government insisting its position is grounded in operational necessity rather than political discrimination. Both sides have called for calm, with appeals for dialogue to prevent escalation of tensions or any breakdown of public order.
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