Nigerians blast Imo govt for allegedly marking centre for demolition after Obi’s town hall meeting

A public backlash has followed the Imo State government after it allegedly marked a private event centre for demolition and ordered its owners to produce their licence, following the hosting of Peter Obi’s town hall meeting.

The centre, Foret Events Centre, located on Port Harcourt Road, by Concord Junction, New Owerri, was sprayed with red paint with a message ordering the management to show its documents.

“Show your title document and ground rent within 48hrs, by Imo State Government,” the message sprayed on the property read.

The marking was discovered on Tuesday, just days after the venue hosted the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, town hall meeting.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the NDC, and his political affiliates held a town hall meeting at the centre on October 31, 2026, which drew a massive crowd of supporters, party leaders and residents.

At the town hall, Obi told the crowd that President Bola Tinubu had not spent even one night in Imo State since he became President.

Since photos and videos of the marked building surfaced online, Nigerians have reacted, with many linking the action to the hosting of Obi’s meeting.

Some supporters of the NDC described the marking as a political witch hunt and an attempt to intimidate owners of venues that host opposition events.

They argued that the timing was too suspicious to be a coincidence, coming just 10 days after Obi used the centre.

Others said it was a warning to other event centres in the South East not to allow Obi and the NDC to use their facilities.

At the time of filing this report, the Imo State Government has not issued an official statement explaining the specific legal grounds for marking the centre or confirming that a final demolition order has been issued against the property.