Key Takeaways
- The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of blocking its access to campaign venues and billboard spaces.
- NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Director said the party paid for four venues but faced obstacles each time, with the latest booking cancelled after publicity.
- An APC official, speaking anonymously to Vanguard, dismissed the allegation as baseless and challenged the NDC to identify which state or ministry denied it facilities.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working to frustrate its campaign by making it difficult for the party to secure venues and billboards.
The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, who spoke on Arise Television on Monday, vowed that the party would not be cowed.
Director said the party had paid for four different venues in its bid to hold its programmes, but had faced obstacles each time.
He claimed that the most recent booking was cancelled shortly after the party publicised the event.
“This is the fourth venue we are paying for. We kept this one under wraps until just a few hours ago when we issued the press release, only for us to be called that the political marauders have come and said they are the owners of the land, so we should take back our money,” he said.
The NDC spokesman said the party would continue its activities, insisting that Nigerians had fought hard for democracy.
“Nigeria belongs to us all. Nobody owns Nigeria. We fought; we used our life and sweat and blood to fight for this democracy we are enjoying today. So who is that person to tell me that I will not have a right to exercise my freedom of speech and freedom of assembly?” he said.
He added that although the party had also been shut out of billboard spaces, it would still find ways to reach voters.
Responding to criticism that the party was slow to set up its campaign structure, Director said NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had held several town hall meetings across the country.
He said the party had held at least four meetings and had covered almost all zones, stressing that its campaign would focus on engagement rather than rallies and entertainment.
