Ekiti election: Opposition accuses govt of blocking rally venue; govt denies

The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nigeria's Ekiti State has accused the state government of preventing it from using the Ekiti State Pavilion, a government-owned facility, for its campaign grand finale. Akinbowale Omole, the ADC's South-west Zonal Chair, alleged that the party was denied access despite applying for the venue, which he compared to Abuja's Eagle Square, a common site for major political rallies. The ADC eventually held its rally at its campaign office in Ado-Ekiti.

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For today’s rally, we applied to use a place that can be compared with Eagle Square in Abuja, which is where all political parties normally have their rallies. APC had theirs there two days ago. The place is empty as we speak, but they refused to allow us to use the place. Even when we approached private property owners for their facilities, they went there to threaten the owners.

Omole claimed that the party faced threats when attempting to secure alternative private venues, contributing to what he described as a "hostile political environment" for the opposition over the past eight months. He suggested that the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had used the same pavilion just two days prior, highlighting a perceived double standard. Omole noted that the turnout at their rally was limited due to these circumstances, with only representatives from across the state attending.

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The crowd here is just a representative.

However, the Ekiti State government has refuted the ADC's claims. Taiwo Olatunbosun, the state's commissioner for Information, Culture and Values Orientation, dismissed the accusation as an "excuse for failure" and an attempt by the opposition to accept defeat before the election. He argued that the ADC's campaign rallies have not attracted significant crowds, stating that the pavilion would require at least 30,000 to 40,000 supporters, a number they allegedly do not possess. Olatunbosun added that applying for a public utility does not guarantee access, comparing it to booking a hotel.

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Nobody has blocked anybody from using any public facilities. They are just looking for excuses. They are accepting defeat even before the election.