UNIPORT denies facility approval for Atiku’s campaign

The University of Port Harcourt has debunked social media reports that People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar will campaign in the institution.

This came less than 24 hours after the Rivers State government, through Sports Commissioner Christopher Green, withdrew the approval of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium near Port Harcourt given to the PDP Presidential Campaign Council for Atiku’s meeting that had been scheduled before February 11, 2023.

UNIPORT’s public relations officer, Dr Sam Kpenu, made the denial in a statement issued Thursday in Port Harcourt and made available to journalists.

Kpenu stated that the management of the institution has not authorized a political gathering at the university, saying that the school was not a political ground for gatherings.

He further said that the university is not considering releasing its facility to the PDP PCC or its standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar.

While noting that it was the author’s imagination, he called on the public to refrain from what he called “intentional falsehood” designed to tarnish the university’s rising image.

The statement read: “The attention of the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt has been attracted by an online report attributed to one Mr Humble Lion with the phone number +234 7031061646 doing the rounds on social media that ‘ATIKU Presidential Campaign @UniPort is holding.

“The management wants to state as follows: that the management has not given permission for a political campaign meeting at the university.

“That the university is not a political basis for political campaigns

“And that it is not considering releasing its facility to the Atiku Campaign Council.”

It continued: “The public is therefore called upon to deny this deliberate untruth intended to tarnish the university’s towering reputation as it is simply a fabrication by the author.

“The institution warns the perpetrator of this falsehood to stop immediately or face the wrath of the law.

“Meanwhile, this issue has been reported to law enforcement for appropriate action.”