Owerri, Imo State – The Imo State Government has marked the Foret Events Centre in New Owerri for potential demolition, ordering the owners to produce title documents and evidence of ground rent payment within 48 hours. The action came just days after the private facility hosted a town hall meeting featuring Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The centre, located on Port Harcourt Road by Concord Junction, was discovered on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, with red spray-painted notices on its gate pillars, walls and structures. The inscriptions, attributed to the Imo State Government’s Monitoring and Compliance office, read variations of: “Show your title document and ground rent within 48hrs, by Imo State Government” or “By IMSG.”
The venue hosted the NDC town hall on 31 October 2026. Obi, accompanied by political affiliates, addressed a large crowd of supporters, party leaders and residents. In his remarks, the former Anambra State governor criticised President Bola Tinubu, noting that the president had not spent a single night in Imo State since assuming office despite spending more than 260 days abroad. Obi also highlighted issues of poverty, insecurity, rising debt and the number of out-of-school children, while outlining the NDC’s vision with running mate Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Photos and videos of the marked property quickly circulated on social media, sparking widespread public reaction. Many Nigerians linked the timing of the enforcement action to the opposition gathering, describing it as political intimidation or a warning to other venues in the South East against hosting Obi or NDC events. Critics argued that the centre appeared to be the only structure targeted in the immediate area.
At the time of the initial reports on 11 November 2026, the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma had not issued an official statement clarifying the specific legal grounds for the marking or confirming whether a final demolition order had been issued. Officials have not publicly addressed whether the action was routine compliance enforcement or connected to the recent political event.
The development has intensified political tensions in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition voices framing it as an attempt to restrict democratic engagement. Supporters of the state government maintain that compliance with land and building regulations applies equally to all properties regardless of political use.
The Foret Events Centre management has not publicly commented on the notice as of the latest reports. Further developments, including any response from the Imo State Government or legal action by the property owners, are expected in the coming days.
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