Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been denied access to the Eagle Square in Abuja for the formal declaration of his presidential interest on Wednesday.
Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory have also denied the 61-year-old access to the Old Parade Ground, also in the city.
Kwankwaso recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a letter signed by Usman Raji, the facility manager of the Abuja International Conference Centre & Eagles Square, the government said the decision to deny him the Eagle Square was to avoid disruption of “workflow” at the Federal Secretariat, a major hub of civil servants.
The letter dated August 27 reads: “We are sorry to inform you that the event can no longer hold on the said date because it is a political event and the 29th of August, 2018 happens to be a work day, as it would disrupt the usual workflow of the Federal Secretariat.
“We apologise for the oversight on our part to note the date in relation to the nature of the event. We regret every inconvenience caused by this.”
In its statement, however, the Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation said it “sees the development as a handiwork of the government in power who will not see anything good in growing our fledgling democracy as no level playing field has been created to allow for viable opposition in the country.
“Even at that, earlier Tuesday morning the Abuja International Conference and Eagle Square, managed by the Integrated Facility Management Services Ltd refused us access to inspect the premises demanding us to present a police permit, when actual approval for the use of the Eagle Square has been sought and paid for more than one week to the said declaration.
“The above development will in no way dampen our morale to go ahead with the declaration or chicken-out as it will only embolden us to legally pursue our fundamental right to freedom of movement and association.”
