The Governor Godswill Akpabio-led administration in Akwa Ibom State has refused granting permission to the All Progressives Congress, APC, to use Uyo township stadium in hosting the President-Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.).
Buhari was billed to visit the state on Thursday, but had to postpone the visit till after Saturday’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections following the state government’s refusal for his party to use the Uyo Township Stadium.
The letter denying the APC the use of the stadium emanated from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youth and Sports, dated April 7, with ref. No. MYS/AD/146/VOL. 11/142 and made available to journalists on Thursday.
According to the letter, signed by Mr. Nse Edem, on behalf of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Akan Uko, the request to use the stadium was denied because the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state had earlier applied to use it.
It reads, “I am directed to refer to your letter of April 6, 2015 on the request for the use of Uyo township stadium and to inform you that the ministry had already approved the use of the stadium to the Peoples Democratic Party on April 9.
“You are by this letter please requested to look for any other alternative venue since the stadium had already been booked and would not be free for April 9.”
Head of Media and Publicity of APC Governorship Campaign Organisation, Mr. Iboro Otongaran, while reacting to the development, said the President-Elect would not visit the state as scheduled owing to the denial of the APC the use of the venue.
He regretted that efforts to get alternative venue had proved abortive as the party had been so confident that its request to make use of the Uyo township stadium would be approved.
Calling on APC supporters in the state not to worry, the Campaign spokesman charged them to go out en masse on Saturday to vote for Umana as Akwa Ibom governor and all other APC candidates in the state House of Assembly.
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