KINGSLEY EBERE
The Igbonine Great People’s Assembly Worldwide has strongly condemned the reported denial of a paid hall to the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, in Enugu State, describing the action as shameful, undemocratic and alien to Igbo culture.
In a press statement issued on 28th October, 2026 and signed by its National President, Dr. Ugochukwu Nnajiofor, the group said it was pained and embarrassed by the development, noting that Enugu, as the heart of Igbo land, is globally renowned for hospitality, freedom and accommodation of visitors irrespective of political affiliation.
According to the Assembly, it initially doubted the news when it first broke, stressing that it is difficult to believe that in 2026, a presidential candidate who duly paid in full for a venue to engage his supporters would be humiliated, chased around and denied access to the facility.
The group questioned the rationale behind the action, asking what offence the candidate committed by seeking to hold a town hall meeting and interact directly with Nigerians in the state.
Igbonine stated that the incident transcends partisan politics, describing it as a clear case of intimidation and abuse of power that does not represent the values and identity of Ndigbo.
The Assembly emphasized that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of association, adding that Enugu State is not exempt from these constitutional provisions.
It stressed that Enugu State is not the personal property of any governor or any political party, but belongs to all Nigerians, particularly the ordinary citizens who seek a better country through democratic engagement.
The group warned that if a presidential candidate could be blocked from using a hall he legitimately paid for, then ordinary traders, students and market women who hold dissenting views would be even more vulnerable to suppression.
It noted that injustice should concern everyone, stating that allowing it to happen to one person today creates a dangerous precedent that could affect others tomorrow.
Consequently, the Igbonine Great People’s Assembly made three key demands.
First, it called for the immediate release of the hall to the NDC presidential candidate, insisting that having paid for the venue, justice demands that he be allowed to use it.
Second, it called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, DSS, to rise to their constitutional responsibility of protecting democratic tenets and all political actors, rather than standing by while democratic rights are violated.
Third, it appealed to all well-meaning stakeholders, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, civil society organizations, the media and all lovers of Igbo land to speak out against the injustice, warning that silence in the face of oppression is dangerous.
The Assembly reiterated its core belief that every candidate should be allowed to speak freely and present their agenda to Nigerians, while the electorate should be allowed to make their own choice without intimidation or coercion.
It concluded that Nigeria cannot aspire to build a better democracy while democratic values are being undermined at the grassroots, stressing that an injury to one is an injury to all.