Atiku rejects Wike approval of stadium for PDP presidential campaign

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has turned down the approval granted the party by the Rivers State Government to use the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium, Igwurita-Ali, Port Harcourt, for its presidential campaign rally.

The Atiku campaign council condemned the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, saying the governor could not be trusted, adding that “he wrote to us formally cancelling the approval. We also expect Governor Wike to write and not just stand on a podium during campaign and make statements that depict a very high-level of instability.”

The rejection followed volte-face of Wike, which had earlier withdrawn the approval to use the stadium.

Governor Wike’s administration had earlier withdrawn the initial approval of February 11.

Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Chris Green, in a circular issued on January 31, explained that the decision was taken because of their discovery that the PDP was in alliance with some members of the All Progressives Congress in the state.

The Atiku campaign council said, “Governor Wike must first write to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, the same way he did while revoking the approval.

“He wrote to us formally cancelling the approval. We also expect Governor Wike to write and not just standing on a podium during campaign and making statements that depict a very high-level of instability. At this point, Rivers people should be aware that they have an unstable leader.”