By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—EBONYI State government and the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday took different stands over the planned usage of the Abakaliki Township Stadium by the latter for its rally this Saturday  in the state.

The All Progressives Congress, APC in the state had announced that it will hold a mega rally at the stadium on Saturday, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

But the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led state government in a reaction  yesterday  maintained that it has not given approval to any political party in the state to make use of the Abakaliki Township stadium for any rally  on Saturday.

The state government said it has banned the use of the   stadium which it recently renamed Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, for  any political rally pending when ongoing reconstruction work at the stadium is completed. But  the APC on its part insisted that it must go ahead with the rally.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor David Umahi, Emmanuel Uzor, while addressing journalists who paid him a courtesy visit, urged the APC in the state to look elsewhere for its proposed rally.

According to him, “the stadium is not available for use for the rally as it was still undergoing reconstruction and renovation including asphalting and illumination of floodlight.

“Abakaliki Township Stadium, now Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium as you  all know has been under reconstruction and as I am talking to you, the asphalt at the back of the stadium is ongoing and the illumination of the flood light and the popular stand is ongoing.”

While noting that the state government allows  freedom of political parties in the state to operate unhindered, Uzor however maintained that any political activity at the stadium at this particular time will jeopardise the work currently ongoing at the staudium.

“Any political activity in that place especially by a particular party that is divided along three different strange lines will jeopardise the  construction work in the stadium.

“We believe in accommodating all the different voices especially different parties in the state. We don’t want to stiffle any opposition. Any opposition with credible integrity that wants to do anything is free to do it but as for the stadium,you will notice that for some time, even the state government has not done anything in the stadium because of the work going on there,” Uzor added.

But  in a swift reaction, the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Nwoba Chika Nwoba insisted that the party would make use of the stadium  on Saturday.

He warned supporters of the state government to stay away from the stadium on Saturday for their own good.

“We are using the State Township Stadium  on Saturday  for our rally  irrespective of the refusal of the state government. We are using  it and we are here warning the touts who would be sent by the governor  or anybody to stop our entry into the facility to please stay at home in their own interest. We will not entertain any nonsense that day.

“The state government wrote to our great party, the APC this morning saying that the stadium was undergoing reconstruction, a stadium that was used for several events a few days ago.

“So, may it be known to all that the APC Ebonyi State chapter shall  be making use of the stadium on Saturday, despite any ongoing re-construction” Nwoba said.