Rivers Tinubu rally stadium controversy has erupted after the Rivers State Government denied claims that it blocked a pro-President Bola Tinubu rally planned at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. The state said the facility was unavailable because it is currently undergoing reconstruction and poses safety risks.
The denial followed accusations by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and leaders of the Renewed Hope Agenda in Rivers State. They alleged that the state government deliberately denied their group access to the stadium for the inauguration of coordinators across the state’s three senatorial districts and 23 local government areas.
The rally was eventually relocated to the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Speaking there, Wike accused the state government of political interference and warned that denial of public facilities could provoke forceful occupation.
In response, the Rivers State Government described the allegations as false and misleading. In a statement issued Friday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Honour Sirawoo, said the Yakubu Gowon Stadium is under active reconstruction and unsafe for public use.
Sirawoo said he personally inspected the stadium alongside the Commissioner for Sports under the supervision of the site engineer. According to him, the scale of construction work made it impossible to host any event at the facility. He stressed that public safety, not politics, informed the decision.
The Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, who also serves as the state’s Attorney-General, said his ministry received no formal application requesting use of the stadium. He added that the alternative venue used for the rally is also owned by the Rivers State Government, countering claims of targeted obstruction.
Site engineer Michael Ebitenye warned that heavy foot traffic could damage underground installations beneath the pitch. He also cited safety hazards in VIP sections and other parts of the stadium still under renovation.
Green said the contracting firm handling the project, Monimichelle, would not permit the use of any facility under reconstruction, regardless of political affiliation. The state government urged political actors to prioritise public interest and safety over partisan disputes.
